Tyrell Godwin facts for kids

Tyrell Godwin, born on July 10, 1979, is a former American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Tyrell Godwin played for the Washington Nationals.

Tyrell Godwin's College Sports Journey

Tyrell Godwin was a talented athlete in high school. He played both football and baseball at East Bladen High School. Later, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He even earned a special scholarship called the Morehead Scholarship.

Playing College Football

Tyrell Godwin played football for the Tar Heels in 1997 and 1998. He was mostly on the special teams. In 1998, he was a top player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He had a great average for kickoff returns. He even set a school record! He ran a kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown. This amazing play happened against Stanford on September 19, 1998. After 1998, Tyrell decided to focus only on baseball.

Playing College Baseball

Tyrell Godwin played baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels for three years. He was a very good hitter. In 1998, his batting average was .337. It got even better in 1999, reaching .371. In his last year, 2000, he batted .363. Because of his excellent play, he was named a third team All-American in 2000.

Tyrell Godwin's Professional Career

Tyrell Godwin was drafted by two different baseball teams. First, the New York Yankees picked him in 1997. Then, the Texas Rangers drafted him in 2000. But Tyrell did not sign with either of these teams. He chose to keep playing in college.

He finally signed with a team in 2001. The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the third round. He was the 91st player chosen overall. Tyrell played in the Blue Jays' minor league system for four years. Minor league teams are where players develop their skills before playing in the MLB.

Playing for the Washington Nationals

In 2005, the Washington Nationals picked Tyrell Godwin. They chose him in a special event called the Rule 5 draft. He played in three games for the Nationals during the 2005 season. He wore jersey number 1. After his time with the Nationals, he continued to play in the minor leagues. He played until 2007.