Niko Goodrum of the Houston Astros takes a swing during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 14, 2022 in Washington DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Switch-hitting infielder Niko Goodrum signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and was assigned to Triple-A St. Paul on December 21.
The Twins have yet to announce Goodrum as an invitee to their big league camp for Spring Training.
Goodrum, 31, was born in Atlanta and was drafted by the Twins in the second round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft from Fayette County High School, in Fayetteville, Ga., and signed for a $514,800 bonus with the organization on June 23, 2010.
Goodrum spent seven seasons with the Twins organization before he made his Major League Baseball debut with Minnesota on Sept. 2, 2017.
Last season, Goodrum split the season between Triple-A Worcester in the Boston Red Sox organization and South Korea with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League.
Goodrum suited up in 65 games with Triple-A Worcester, batting .280 with 61 hits, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 36 RBI, seven stolen bases, 66 walks, 60 strikeouts, and a .888 OPS before being released on July 3.
Goodrum signed a $400,000 contract with the Lotte Giants on July 11 for the remainder of the 2023 season in South Korea. Goodrum hit .295 over 201 plate appearances in 50 games, recording 51 hits, 14 doubles, one triple, 28 RBI, 23 walks, 46 strikeouts, and a .760 OPS. The Lotte Giants finished 68-76, good for seventh place during the 2023 KBO season, missing the playoffs.
In 2022, Goodrum signed as a free agent on March 15 with the Houston Astros. Goodrum played 15 games with the Astros during the 2022 regular season, making 45 plate appearances and hitting .116 with five hits, two doubles, one RBI, two walks, and 23 strikeouts before being sent down to Triple-A Sugar Land on May 15.
In six seasons at the MLB level, Goodrum has played in 402 games, making 1,531 plate appearances and batting .226 with 311 hits, 76 doubles, 11 triples, 42 home runs, 152 RBI, 46 stolen bases, 138 walks, 479 strikeouts, and a .688 OPS.
The Twins will play their first spring training game on February 23 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla., against the University of Minnesota at 6 p.m. EST.