Howard addresses PDP players on Opening Day
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Ryan Howard's career turned out just fine. He won a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP award, a World Series championship, two home run titles and three All-Star Game berths.
But he admitted that he wished he had the opportunity that 80 of the top high school prospects for the 2020 Draft are getting at the inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. The players will play nine games between today and July 4 and also receive instruction from All-Stars and Hall of Famers such as Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones and Barry Larkin as part of a collaborative effort between MLB and USA Baseball.
At the end of the three-week program, 40 PDP Leaguers will be selected to play in a High School All-Star Game in Cleveland on July 6 as part of All-Star Weekend. USA Baseball also will use the League as part of its process for choosing players for September's 18-and-under World Cup in Busan, South Korea.
"The way things are now, with all the showcases, we didn't have all that," said Howard, who -- along with Jeter, Jones and Larkin -- is serving as a captain for one of the four PDP League teams. "We had the Area Code Games and American Legion ball and maybe we'd travel to play in a couple of tournaments.
"It's huge to have the caliber of coaches from the professional and college levels here to teach these players, to give them the knowledge and show them some things to get to the level where they were. When I was their age, I just played. When someone can tell you things to better equip you, it's helpful."
Howard spent Thursday taking in the first day of PDP League games. He began the morning by addressing the players for 10 minutes, taking questions for another 20 minutes and then speaking with a group of a half-dozen prospects for several minutes afterward.
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"Getting there is great but you've got to work to get there," Howard said. "You have a great platform here. Pick the brains of your coaches. You've got All-Stars and Hall of Famers here.
"We were all in your shoes coming up, so pick our brains. We know what it takes to get there."
Multiple players asked Howard to relate his big league experiences. He emphasized the importance of having the right mentality and work ethic, which made an impression Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS right-hander Max Rajcic.
"He told us you can't take nothing guaranteed," Rajcic said. "You've got to work for everything. He told us in his Draft class, only two [other] guys got to the big leagues with the Phillies, so you've got to work hard."
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Howard's first experience with USA Baseball came in 2000, when he was part of a collegiate national team that included Mark Prior and Mark Teixeira and went 27-3 that summer. He said he was thrilled when USA Baseball asked him to be part of the PDP League.
"Being able to associate with USA Baseball, that's one of the ultimate honors and rewards," he said. "For them to think of me like this, I'm beyond flattered."