SCF alumnus Nick Goody pitches well for Cleveland Indians

No matter what the outcome, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has given Nick Goody the ball in big spots.

And so far this season, the former State College of Florida and LSU star has delivered.

Goody has allowed five earned runs in 30 games, posting a 1.36 earned-run average and striking out 38 batters in 33 innings.

“Tito (Francona has) been absolutely amazing to work with,” Goody told the Herald. “Not just a manager, he’s ... always positive. He gets it. I have nothing but great things to say about him.”

Goody didn’t break camp with the Indians this spring, but he didn’t have to wait long before getting promoted back to the majors. It came in mid-April and the American League Central Division-leading Indians have benefited.

“It’s not where you start; it’s where you finish,” Goody said. “If I started at Triple-A and we end up in the World Series, I take that every time.”

Goody is not alone in having a good season in pro baseball. How some others with local ties are faring:

Granden Goetzman: The Palmetto High School alumnus made his Triple-A debut in his seventh pro season in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Goetzman received a May promotion to Triple-A Durham (N.C.), and he excelled with a .314 average and a .429 slugging percentage in 17 games. However, his stay lasted a little more than two weeks and Goetzman is currently with Double-A Montgomery (Ala.)

Michael Suchy: The Southeast High School graduate is hitting .189 this season at Pittsburgh’s Double-A affiliate, Altoona (Pa.). In the last 10 games, Suchy’s struggled with just two hits in 34 at-bats.

Mike Ohlman: A Lakewood Ranch High School alumnus, Ohlman received his major league call-up to the Toronto Blue Jays in May. The catcher was designated for assignment about two weeks after making his MLB debut. He went 2 for 9 in five games for Toronto. At Triple-A Buffalo (N.Y.), Ohlman has 10 home runs and 10 doubles, while hitting .208 in 61 International League games. Although he, too, is in a slump (4 for 31) over his last 10 games.

Seth McGarry: The Lakewood Ranch High School alumnus was a Florida State League All-Star for his first-half performance with the Bradenton Marauders, who are the high Single A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the season, McGarry’s posted a 1.11 earned-run average with eight saves in eight attempts. He has struck out 31 batters in 32 1/3 innings.

Brad Zunica: A Lakewood Ranch High School and State College of Florida alumnus, Zunica’s 2017 campaign is at San Diego’s Single-A affiliate in Fort Wayne (Ind.). Zunica’s cranked 14 home runs with 11 doubles and 35 RBIs to go with a .263 average in 60 games.

Correlle Prime: Playing for Double-A Hartford (Conn.) in the Colorado Rockies organization for the second consecutive season, the Manatee High School alumnus is hitting .266 in 44 games this season. He recently went 3 for 4 with two RBIs on July 3, starting a 7 for 13 stretch in his past four games this week. He is hitting .266 in 124 at-bats.

Weston Davis: The Manatee High School alumnus opened his 2017 season with Hagerstown (Md.) in Single-A ball, but made only two starts before being placed on the disabled list after an April 15 start. Davis returned from the DL in late June and has made one start in the Gulf Coast League and two in the short-season Single-A ball with Auburn (N.Y.). He threw five shutout innings, striking out three against zero walks and allowing two hits in his first start. On Saturday, in his second start, he pitched four shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.

This story was originally published July 8, 2017 at 5:49 PM with the headline "SCF alumnus Nick Goody pitches well for Cleveland Indians."