Niko Goodrum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niko Goodrum |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Goodrum with the Detroit Tigers in 2018
|
|||
| Utility player | |||
| Born: February 28, 1992 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 2, 2017, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| KBO: July 21, 2023, for the Lotte Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: May 13, 2024, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| KBO: October 10, 2023, for the Lotte Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .224 | ||
| Home runs | 42 | ||
| Runs batted in | 152 | ||
| Stolen bases | 47 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .295 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 28 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Niko Goodrum, born on February 28, 1992, is an American former professional baseball player. He was known as a utility player, meaning he could play almost any position on the field. During his career, he played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), including the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and Los Angeles Angels. He also played in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants. Niko was very versatile, playing every position except pitcher and catcher in his MLB career. He retired from professional baseball on April 23, 2025.
Contents
Niko Goodrum's Baseball Journey
Niko Goodrum grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia. He went to Fayette County High School. His talent for baseball was noticed early on.
Starting with the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins picked Niko in the second round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 71st player chosen overall. He signed a contract and started his professional career. His first team was the Gulf Coast Twins, a Rookie-level team.
In 2011, Niko played for the Elizabethton Twins. He had a .275 batting average. By 2013, he was with the Cedar Rapids Kernals. He batted .260 that year. In 2014, he played for the Fort Myers Miracle. He hit 3 home runs and had 49 RBI. During this time, he changed from playing shortstop to third base.
Niko continued to play in the minor leagues. He spent time with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 2015. He reached the Triple–A level with the Rochester Red Wings in 2017. The Twins called him up to the major leagues on September 1, 2017.
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
Niko signed with the Detroit Tigers in November 2017. He had a great spring training in 2018. This helped him earn a spot on the Tigers' main roster.
He hit his first major league home run on April 5, 2018. It was against the Chicago White Sox. On May 14, he had an amazing game. He hit two home runs and brought in five runs. The Tigers won that game 6–3 against the Cleveland Indians.
Niko finished the 2018 season with a .245 batting average. He hit 16 home runs and had 53 RBI. He also stole 12 bases. He played six different positions that year. These included all four infield spots, plus left and right field. He was even named the 2018 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year.
In 2019, Niko had another memorable game. On May 31, he got five hits in one game. This included a double and two home runs. He was the first Tigers player since 2003 to have five hits with at least three extra-base hits and two home runs. He played 112 games that year. He hit 12 home runs and had 45 RBI.
In the shorter 2020 season, Niko played 43 games. He hit five home runs and had 20 RBI. In 2021, he played 90 games. He batted .214 with 9 home runs and 33 RBI. He also stole 14 bases.
Time with Other Teams
After leaving the Tigers, Niko signed with the Houston Astros in March 2022. He played 15 games for them. He then played for their Triple-A team.
In December 2022, Niko signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He played well for their Triple-A team, the Worcester Red Sox. He hit 8 home runs and had 36 RBI in 65 games.
Niko then moved to South Korea. He signed with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League in July 2023. He played 50 games there. He had a .295 batting average and 28 RBI.
In 2024, Niko returned to MLB. He signed with the Minnesota Twins in December 2023. He was then traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in March 2024. He played 9 games for the Rays. Later, he was claimed by the Los Angeles Angels in May 2024. He played four games for them.
He was briefly with the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 2024. He then signed with the Baltimore Orioles in June 2024. He played 43 games for their Triple-A team. His last team was the New York Mets organization in 2025. He retired from baseball in April 2025.
Niko Goodrum's Life Outside Baseball
Niko's father, Tim Goodrum, played college football.
Niko is also known for his kindness. In June 2018, he donated 1,440 cases of water. This was to help people in Flint, Michigan, during the Flint water crisis.
