Jeff Goodale expressed shock at being taken in the draft out of high school in 1986, even though he hit .375 his senior year, The Desert Sun wrote.
"I was a little surprised at first," Goodale told The Sun. "I didn't get off to a very good start, but I worked hard all season and it paid off in the end. It was very gratifying to get drafted."
Goodale ended up not signing that year, but his hard work led to him being drafted again later and he signed then. He saw three professional seasons in all. He topped out at high-A.
Goodale's pro career began in 1986, taken by the Tigers in the 13th round of the draft out of the University of California, Riverside.
At Palm Springs, Goodale took home his school's outstanding baseball player award his senior year, an award presented by Angels owner Gene Autry. In college, Goodale picked up four hits and an RBI in a May 1989 game.
In March 1989, Goodale spoke to The Los Angeles Times about facing a top opposing pitcher with scouts watching. He ended up hitting a home run off that pitcher.
"He's tough," Goodale told The Times. "Basically, you have to look for one pitch, and if you get it, you better take advantage of it. Because if you don't, he's going to beat you."
Goodale started with the Tigers at short-season Niagara Falls. He got into 66 games and hit .268.
He then moved to high-A Lakeland for 1990. He hit .244 in 107 games there. He then saw 31 more games at Lakeland in 1991, and 43 at single-A Fayetteville. He hit .290 on the year. That season proved his last as pro.
- Desert Sun, June 12, 1986: Brewers select PSHS's Goodale in draft
- Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1989: Martinez Pays for Mistake as CSUN Falls to Riverside
Made the Majors:1,262-33.9%
Never Made Majors:2,464-66.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:522
10+ Seasons in the Minors:309
I covered him with Niagara Falls. He was one of their better players.
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