Where Are They Now - Gary Goodchild

[WestCoastStros]

Reporters and fans alike wondered what a second press conference on the same day could mean as Jerusalem followed its release of admittedly vague details regarding what occurred with the sign-and-release of former stars Baden Dutton and Hsuang-Tsung Xu with a cryptic enticement to remain downtown for a “big announcement” later that afternoon.

All got more than they could have wished for with GM Mark Becker and owner Khalig Rajput revealing plans to unveil the superbly named Hebrew Hammers Honors Hall.

Leading up to the official induction ceremony of the first class later this spring, the team also will be recognizing individuals who will not qualify for induction, but are still quite deserving of celebration for their contributions to the team over the years. While fans have had a field day with speculation over who will have the honor to be enshrined first, we are already privy to the first name in the celebration series: Gary Goodchild..

The #1 overall pick in the 2044 draft following his release from Munich Red Baron of the C1 Old European, the precocious 19-year old knuckleballer immediately had minor league evaluators drooling. Just 12 days after the draft, he struck out 15 batters in a game after an aggressive initial placement in AA, then did that one better with 16 a mere 16 days later. Within two months, he was already recognized as the top prospect in the UMEBA – and set another high with 17 strikeouts against the Cartagena Capitals on Aug. 19, 2044. He earned the 2044 SABL SL1 Pitcher of the Year Award, then was named ABA NL Pitcher of the Month early in the 2045 season before going on to claim the league’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Jerusalem gave him a shot to earn a spot in the rotation to start 2046, and again Goodchild did not disappoint. He promptly won the UMEBA BURT Pitcher of the Month Award for April…and June…and July, before a gruesome torn meniscus ended his season on Sept. 6.

Even with the shortened season, he had compiled what remains by far the best single season in club history – 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 18-3 record, 6.6 WAR (all which led the league) with 163 strikeouts that fell just 33 shy of the all-time mark, which most at the time and since agree he would have needed just four starts to be the only player in team history to top 200 in a season.

Though he made a speedy recovery and even won the ensuing April UMEBA BURT Pitcher of the Month Award, an at-the-time minor back injury added to the toll on his young body and the 20yo’s stuff began to fall back just enough to cause issues he had never before experienced as a baseball player. A solid 3.30 ERA, 4.0 WAR season in 2047 was followed by a struggle to a 3-8 record on a 4.96 ERA in 2048, at which point the two-time All-Star requested and was granted his release to sign a massive 6-year, $66.3M contract with BBA member Omaha Cyclones. He played just one year in Nebraska, where his clearly diminished stuff amassed just 109 strikeouts in 169.1 IP before a deadline deal sent him to El Paso, where he struggled even more.

The 2050 season was kinder, as he rebounded from years of struggle to post a winning record for the first time since 2047 thanks to a 4.21 ER and bumped his K rate back above 7.0. However, unable to catch a break, a second torn meniscus has him on the shelf this Spring Training with another estimated four months remaining in his recovery. He will earn $12.6M this season even while injured, and would appear highly unlikely to exercise either his post-2051 or 2052 opt-outs. Amazingly still just 24yo, the Englishman is not one for the spotlight but likely will never have to buy a beer for himself in Jerusalem as fans can be heard in any bar on any night recounting the time they saw him throw in that magical 2046 season for the ages.

[Dington]

What could’ve been…