Former Troy, Enterprise standout Godwin makes all-star game

Adam Godwin hopes it’s the first of more to come.

The former Enterprise and Troy University baseball standout, now with the Jacksonville Suns Class AA team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was named to the Southern League All-Star game late last week.

The all-star selection is the first for Godwin since entering the minor leagues in the summer of 2005.

A 2001 Enterprise High School graduate who played at Enterprise-Ozark and Troy for two years each, Godwin was an 11th-round pick of the Dodgers in June of 2005.

The Southern League all-star game is Monday night in Zebulon, N.C., home of the Carolina Mudcats. Godwin, an outfielder, will play for the South team against the North.

“Before the season that (making the all-star team) was one of my personal goals,” Godwin said Wednesday in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “You try to set personal goals every season and that was one of them. I want to be one of the best outfielders, and one of the best centerfielders, if not the best, in the Southern League.

“I am excited about it (the selection). I have played well this season with exception of the last week and half. I am pumped. It was definitely good news to hear last week.”

Godwin will join six other Suns teammates at the game.

He almost didn’t get selected, though.

The Southern League announced its all-stars last Wednesday and Godwin wasn’t originally on the list. Montgomery’s Gaby Martinez dropped out the next day and Godwin was added to the roster.

“One day you are not on there then the next day you are, so you never know, but it’s always an honor to go,” Godwin said.

Following Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Mississippi Braves, Godwin, usually the lead-off or No. 8 hitter, was hitting .276 with one homer, 25 runs batted in and 39 runs scored.

Known for his speed, Godwin also has 17 stolen bases, which ties for eighth in the Southern League.

Just 11 days ago, Godwin was batting .288. However, he has gone 7-for-35 since with no official stolen bases, starting with a 1-for-7 game June 29 against Charlotte.

“Up to two weeks ago, I was where I wanted to be — batting in the .280s and stealing bases, playing my type of game,” said Godwin, who set the Troy and Atlantic Sun record for stolen bases in a season with 84 as a senior.

“There has not been one particular reason (for the slump), but in the past week I haven’t been seeing the ball real well at the plate.”

He hopes a pinch-hit single in the ninth of Wednesday’s game was a jump-start. Today, Godwin and his teammates face Mike Hampton, the Atlanta Brave pitcher who is in the middle of a rehab assignment in Mississippi.

While making the all-star team was a goal, it isn’t his only one. Godwin said he would also like to make the league’s postseason all-star team. Like all minor league players, he wants to achieve the ultimate goal — the call to the major league level.

“Every player wants to get the call-up,” Godwin said. “Being in AA it can happen a lot easier and is more realistic than it was in Class A ball, but you don’t have any control over it. The way I look at it is, if it is to happen, it will happen.

“Right now, my focus is on myself and what is best for the Jacksonville Suns.”

Godwin would also like to get his average back up and hit .300 and steal 40 bases for the year.

Godwin, his teammates and a couple of all-stars from the Mississippi Braves will head to North Carolina after the series and arrive on Sunday for Monday’s game, making the all-star event a quick trip for the group.

Though short, Godwin expects it will be a good experience.

“Hopefully I can get in there and get a hit or a steal or something,” Godwin said.

He especially hopes the all-star appearance is a start of a trend, one on a grander stage.

“Hopefully it is the first of many more to come,” said Godwin before quickly adding, “But not in the minor leagues.”