Sam Howard
| IP | 91 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.341 |
| WHIP | 1.505 |
| BB/9 | 5.736 |
| SO/9 | 11.077 |
- Full name Sam Howard
- Born 03/05/1993 in Cartersville, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Georgia Southern
- Debut 06/10/2018
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Drafted in the 3rd round (82nd overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2014 (signed for $672,100).
View Draft Report
A 48th-round pick out of a Georgia high school in 2011, Howard won't have to wait long to hear his name called in 2014. At 6-foot-3, 183 pounds, he continues to grow into his lean frame and his stuff has matured as well. He's had an inconsistent career and season, though he has lowered his ERA from 5.55 in 2013 to 2.39 through 13 starts in 2014. He also has thrown more strikes this spring despite a tough delivery that at times leaves his arm dragging behind his body. Howard most often pitches at 87-91 mph, but at times he'll bump 93-94 and sit 89-92. He has shown scouts both a slider and a curveball. Scouts prefer the slider, though neither pitch projects as above-average. He has some feel for a solid-average changeup, and when he's on he throws all four pitches for strikes.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Howard is an acquired taste. He isn't one of those guys who steps on the mound and overpowers. He is a pitcher, and he has proven since his high school days he can adjust over the course of a season. Howard doesn't back down from a challenge, which was evident his junior year in college when, after early season struggles, he moved into the No. 3 starter role and performed well enough to be the 82nd player selected in the 2014 draft out of Georgia Southern. The Rockies worked to balance Howard's delivery after signing him and it has improved his command. It also was a factor in his fastball velocity jumping from the upper 80s to its present 91-94 mph with sink. Howard compliments his fastball with a back foot slider that has a promising late, hard break, and a usable changeup with fade. His ability to pitch inside to righthanded batters and also change speeds has allowed him to actually be more effective against righties than lefties, which is a tick in his favor for remaining a starter. Having split the 2017 season between Double-A and Triple-A, the expectation is Howard will be ready to step in at the big league level sometime in 2018. -
Considered a pitchability lefty when he came out of Georgia Southern, Howard has improved his stock since signing with the Rockies for $672,100 as the 82nd overall pick in 2014. The organization worked with him on adding balance to his delivery and that led to him gaining more consistent velocity and command. After leading the low Class A South Atlantic League in strikeouts in 2015, he split the 2016 season between high Class A Modesto and Double-A Hartford and actually improved his strikeout rate to 8.6 per nine innings. Howard's 92-93 mph fastball is a tick above-average and effective because of his ability to work both sides of the plate. Its sinking action creates ground balls. He has downward action on his changeup and has focused on refining a slider for his breaking pitch. His slider can get a bit slurvy at times, but when he stays behind it, it's an effective pitch. Howard has been more effective against righthanders thus far in his career. The Rockies envision him in the rotation, but there are discussions he might better fit in relief, a la the Cubs' Travis Wood. Howard is slated to begin 2017 back in Double-A. -
First drafted in the 48th round in 2011 by the Cubs, Howard instead played at Georgia Southern and signed for $672,100 when the Rockies drafted him in the third round in 2014. The lefthander had a tough pro debut at Rookie-level Grand Junction and had difficulty handling failure. But the pieces started to come together at low Class A Asheville in 2015, particularly in the second half of the season, when he showed improved toughness and competitiveness. Howard's breaking ball, which he didn't have great feel for out of college, became tighter and more consistent--though it still needs work. Howard sits in the low 90s and regularly touches 95 mph with a clean, easy delivery and improved downhill angle. He commands his fastball well and has recorded a strong 1.57 groundout-to-airout ratio in 187 minor league innings. His changeup could develop into an above-average pitch, but he needs to throw it more. Howard should be ready for high Class A Modesto in 2016, and he projects as a future back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty reliever. -
The Cubs drafted Howard in the 48th round in 2011, but he went to Georgia Southern and signed for $672,100 after the Rockies took him in the third round in 2014. He has a lanky body and a clean and easy delivery, and his fastball sits at 91-92 mph, touching 94 consistently. He throws an explosive fastball and improved his command of it as the 2014 season went on. During instructional league he worked on throwing with a good downhill angle, and hitters have a hard time elevating it when he does. Howard came to pro ball with a poor curveball and cutter that was big and flat. In instructional league, he developed a better hybrid breaking ball with depth. He needs to tweak his grip on the pitch and stop trying to throw it so hard. His changeup is inconsistent but flashes plus and should be effective against righthanders. Howard does not handle failure well and needs to gain maturity in that area. He could start 2015 in extended spring training but should get a look at low Class A Asheville.
Draft Prospects
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A 48th-round pick out of a Georgia high school in 2011, Howard won't have to wait long to hear his name called in 2014. At 6-foot-3, 183 pounds, he continues to grow into his lean frame and his stuff has matured as well. He's had an inconsistent career and season, though he has lowered his ERA from 5.55 in 2013 to 2.39 through 13 starts in 2014. He also has thrown more strikes this spring despite a tough delivery that at times leaves his arm dragging behind his body. Howard most often pitches at 87-91 mph, but at times he'll bump 93-94 and sit 89-92. He has shown scouts both a slider and a curveball. Scouts prefer the slider, though neither pitch projects as above-average. He has some feel for a solid-average changeup, and when he's on he throws all four pitches for strikes.
