The MLB draft didn’t start how Douglas Freeman ace and VCU recruit Cayman Goode had hoped for and expected.
But before long, it was a dream come true.
Goode, a first-team All-Metro honoree and the Region 5C pitcher of the year, expected to be picked between rounds four and 10.
Day one of the draft, last Sunday, covered the first 74 picks. Day two encompassed rounds three to 10, and the draft concluded Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
Goode knew he wouldn’t go on the first day. But on the second, he went to his pitching coach and adviser’s house — Guy Hansen, a former MLB scout and pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals and Richmond Braves — with a friend, his mom, brother and a few family members.
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That was supposed to be the day. But the 10th round concluded with Goode’s name still on the board.
“Went there on the second day, ended up not seeing my name get called,” Goode said on Thursday.
“So I was pretty frustrated, I was upset, very emotional for my family and me.”
So the next day, to clear his mind, Goode went to Freeman’s field with fellow Mavericks pitcher Peyton Beale to long toss.
Former Freeman coach Ken Moore, a DSF graduate, longtime stalwart of the school community and the field’s namesake, was there too. His son, Ray Moore, played under his father at Freeman and now leads the Mavericks’ program.
Then came the call.
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Douglas Freeman pitcher Cayman Goode celebrated his selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the MLB draft with his family: sister Amara (left), mother Misty (center left) and brother Cash.
It was a scout from the Atlanta Braves, informing Goode that the organization planned to select him in the 12th round, 371st overall.
“He said, ‘Cayman, our whole staff is happy to see you,’” Goode said of the 10-minute conversation.
“I was like ‘Yeah, I’m glad to be a Brave.’ It was an exciting moment for me and my family ... It didn’t go as planned, but I still got drafted.”
Goode hasn’t signed yet and is still waiting to “hear a good price” for his signing bonus with Atlanta. Each selection in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned slot value.
Past that, spending is based on a team’s bonus pool. Atlanta’s bonus pool entering the draft was $7,765,000, the sixth-lowest. Clubs can outspend their bonus pool, but it comes with a penalty.
As it stands, Goode plans to begin his professional career, a decision in part influenced by the news this week that former VCU baseball coach Bradley LeCroy, who’s staff recruited Goode, has left the Rams program to become the head coach at Liberty.
“I wouldn’t mind playing pro ball and starting my career with the Braves,” he said.
“It’s very awesome. When it happened I got followed by Braves accounts, and a lot of messages saying congrats, it was crazy.”
After they left the field, Beale dropped Goode off at home. As soon as he walked in the door, his mother, Misty, was recording him and crying.
“It was emotional,” Goode said.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound, 19-year-old right-hander has electric stuff that drew scouts to his starts this spring. His fastball sits in the lows 90s and has topped out at 94 mph. His curveball and slider register at better than 3,000 RPMs (revolutions per minute).
He went 3-1 this season with a 1.22 ERA, 76 strikeouts and 13 walks in 40 innings. Going forward, he hopes to work on differentiating his slider and curveball — the movement on his breaking pitches tends to blend together — developing his changeup and increasing the velocity on his fastball.
The scout that Goode spoke with said he’d be leaving in six days, and he likely will begin in Florida and then perhaps Georgia at the rookie-ball level, a shortened season designed for young prospects drafted straight out of high school.
In the immediate aftermath of the pick, Goode was thankful for God, his friends, family, coaches and teammates, all of whom have proven instrumental in his development on and off the field.
Getting taken in the MLB draft was a lifelong dream. But Goode never thought it would happen this quick, just after his high school graduation.
“I just can’t wait to play pro ball and get started,” he said.
Photos: Mills Godwin baseball beats Maury 6-5 in Class 5 state semifinal
Mills Godwin baseball players celebrate during their Class 5 state semifinal against Maury on Friday afternoon. Luke Smyers’ home run in the bottom of the seventh inning powered the Eagles to a 6-5 comeback victory at Glen Allen. Mills Godwin faces First Colonial for the championship on Saturday. (Details, Page B1.)