Brewers take Goforth in Round 7

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, June 8, 2011

    What a difference a year makes.

    Especially for former Neshoba Central and Ole Miss pitching standout David Goforth, when he was selected as the 221st overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball draft on Tuesday.    

    Goforth was taken in the 31st round in last year’s draft by the Cleveland Indians, but opted to return to school in order to work on some things and help the Rebels try and attain their goals.

    “That’s the reason I came back to school for another year,” said Goforth of his jump up the draft board. “I felt like there was more that I could improve on and that there were more things that I could do to help myself. It wasn’t only that though, I really wanted to come back and try to help Ole Miss help try and achieve team goals.

    “As it turned out it helped me a whole lot. I’ve matured and gotten a lot more confidence.”

    Indeed the return did pay off for Goforth as he rebounded from a 1-6 record  and a 9-43 ERA in 2010, which was his first year in the starting rotation for the Rebels. In 2011 he compiled a record of 4-6 in 12 appearances with two no-decisions. Goforth had an ERA of 4.79 and struck out 54 batters, while walking only 25.

    As far as being surprised by the big jump from last year’s draft, Goforth explained that it wasn’t really a big surprise.

    “I wasn’t really surprised about the jump,” added Goforth. “We have meetings with scouts throughout the year. Just by talking to those guys and the assistant coaches we got a pretty good idea that I would be between the four to eight-round range.

    The 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-hander now must wait until the completion of the draft in order to begin negotiations with the Brewer’s organization.

    “The first thing I do from here is wait until the draft’s over,” Goforth explained. “Then we have to do some talking with them (Milwaukee) and try and work out a deal and get it done.

    “Hopefully I will be able to get out and play with their guys this summer, but if not we might have to do more negotiating until its final.”

        Other Ole Miss players drafted on Day 2 include Michael Reed, who was also taken by the Brewers in the fifth round. Senquez Golson was selected with the 262nd overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, while  Austin Wright went in the eighth round to the Philadelphia Phillies. Catcher Miles Hamblin rounded out the Day 2 picks going to the Houston Astros at 370th overall.