Korry Howell Shows Off Extra Pop

Just because the coronavirus pandemic shut down the minor leagues in 2020 didn’t mean that Korry Howell had any intention of putting his baseball career on hold. 

The outfielder took part in the organization’s winter program in Phoenix after the 2019 season, then stayed in constant communication with staffers regarding his workouts and program from home during the 2020 shutdown.

The 22-year-old Howell even played in 20 games for Joliet of the independent City of Champions Cup last season.

“That allowed him to see live pitching and get some ABs,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said. “When he got to spring training this year, he was locked in from the start. He was noticeably hitting the ball hard, while retaining the same athleticism that initially caught the eyes of our scouts.” 

A 12th-round pick in 2018 as a shortstop from Kirkwood (Iowa) JC, Howell opened this season at High-A Wisconsin and immediately took off.

In the month of May, Howell batted .326/.422/.616 with six home runs, showing much more pop than he had in the past. He stole nine bases in 10 tries.

“He showed up out of the draft with a tremendous frame and athleticism, and he has worked hard to get stronger,” Flanagan said. “He’s been hitting the ball much harder than in the past and has become a very dynamic player with a speed-power combination.”

Put it all together, and there’s a lot to like in the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Howell’s game. He was finally slowed in early June by an ankle sprain but was back in action after missing 10 games.

Through 43 games, he was hitting .280/.374/.537 with nine homers and 11 steals, making him one of the organization’s most pleasant surprises of 2021.

 

MICROBREWS 

— Lefthander Ethan Small, a 2019 first-round pick out of Mississippi State, was promoted to Triple-A Nashville after going 2-2 with a 1.96 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Biloxi, with 67 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. 

— The Brewers promoted outfielder Joe Gray Jr. to High-A Wisconsin in July in tandem with 2020 first-rounder Garrett Mitchell, who moved to Double-A Biloxi. Gray hit .289/.407/.632 with 12 homers and 12 steals for Low-A Carolina prior to the bump.