Troy University Athletics
Former Trojan Adam Godwin Headed to the Show
3/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
For many baseball players the road from college baseball to the Major Leagues takes years. For former Troy Trojan Adam Godwin, the trip has taken only one season in the minor leagues.
Godwin, an Enterprise, Ala., native and former All-American for the Trojans, has seen action in eight games this spring for the Los Angeles Dodgers and, on Tuesday, he got the word that all minor league players dream of.
"Our director of minor league operations called me on Monday night and scheduled a meeting for 7:30 Tuesday morning," Godwin said. "They didn't tell me what the meeting was for and I was scared to death that they were going to send me home."
Instead of getting his walking papers, Godwin, who has split time this spring between the Dodgers' minor league camp and the big league camp, was told that he was going west with the team to play in the annual "Freeway Series" against the Los Angeles Angels.
"When they told me that I was going west with the big league club, I thought they were lying to me," Godwin said. "My heart was just pounding. It is an unbelievable feeling to know that I am going to ?˜The Show', even if it just for those three spring training games."
Godwin called from the team bus on Wednesday after playing in the Dodgers' spring training game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. The team was on the way to the airport in Tampa for the cross country flight to Los Angeles.
The Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels opens Thursday night at Dodger Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 9:05 p.m. (CT). That game is scheduled to be televised by Fox Sports Net West/Prime Ticket. Friday's game at Dodger Stadium is set for a 9:40 p.m. (CT) start and will be televised by KCAL-TV.
The final game of the series, on Saturday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, is set for a 8:05 p.m. (CT) start and will be televised by Fox Sports Net.
Even though Godwin is making the trip west as one of 31 members of the Dodgers squad, he does not expect to open the season in the big leagues.
"They told me that, after the series with the Angels, I'd have a couple of days off in Los Angeles before reporting to the high A team in San Bernardino," Godwin said. "Hopefully, I won't be there long, but you never know."
The Inland Empire 66ers are scheduled to open their season on Thursday, April 6. The Class AA affiliate for the Dodgers are the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League.
Even though he is hitless in three at bats in games for the Dodgers, Godwin said he has made good contact at the plate, lining out twice and hitting into a fielder's choice. He said his highlight of the spring came in a game against the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
"I have been pinch running and playing a lot of defense so far," Godwin said. "Against the Cardinals I made a diving catch that got a standing ovation.
"I am just trying to keep from having a heart attack right now. One minute, all of these guys are superstars on the big league clubs, and the next you are out there on the field with Albert Pujols holding you on at first, it has just been amazing."
Godwin said his transition to the Major League locker room has been eased by the presence of three players with Alabama ties - Luis Gonzalez, Juan Pierre and Marlon Anderson. All three long-time Major Leaguers played collegiately at South Alabama.
"They have all taken me under their wing a little, because they all know where I am from," Godwin said. "They have all been calling me ?˜Bama', but they are all very professional. It is just so hard for me to believe that I am playing with these guys."
Godwin joins with former Trojan Mike Rivera in the Major Leagues. Rivera, who played at Troy in 1996, has been playing first base for the Milwaukee Brewers and is hitting .415 in 19 games this spring. He played in 46 games last season for Milwaukee, hitting .268 with six home runs while primarily catching.
Other former Trojans in minor league camps this spring include Casey Smith (2000-01) with the Anaheim Angels, Henry Gutierrez (2004-05) with the San Francisco Giants, Jared Keel (2005-06) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mike Felix (2006) also with the Pirates and Tom King (2006) with the San Diego Padres.
