2017 Acquisition: Spencer Howard, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/28/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: short-season A-ball Williamsport Crosscutters
2017 Stats: 9 GS, 28 1/3 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 14.6% BB, 32.5% K
Info: Howard was a former walk-on who ended up the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2nd round selection in the 2017 draft. He’s filled out his lean 6’3″ frame to a more sturdy 200-210 pounds, and his stuff has benefitted.
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While not a major velocity guy, Howard works at 91-93 with his fastball and can tough 95-96 with late movement and excellent location from his easy delivery.
He had two offspeed pitches as an amateur, but he took the “lazy” morphing of one into the other by sharpening up both ends of the morph. He shows a slider, cutter, and change.
The distinction of his slider and cutter really allowed him to attack hitters from both sides of the plate with a late-breaking pitch that strongly mimicked his heater. That allowed Howard to have a monster strikeout rate in his pro debut, in spite of that not likely being his long-term role.
Howard projects as an inning-eater mid-rotation guy that could move quickly with his four-pitch mix now. He’ll open in a full-season league, whether that’s low-A or high-A in 2018.
Next: Arrieta to do more than just pitch
So that is the Philadelphia Phillies top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!