Spencer Howard #56

Attended Templeton (CA) High School in where he was a pitcher and outfielder. Hit .306 at the plate and compiled a 7-3 record and 2.20 ERA on the mound as a senior, earning 2014 North San Luis Obispo County Player of the Year and Los Padres League Most Valuable Player honors. Baseball wasn’t the only sport he played in high school as Howard was also a member of the volleyball team and played rec soccer on the side. Walked-on to the baseball team and played three seasons for the Mustangs. Howard went 8-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 97 strikeouts during his final season in 2017, garnering second-team All- American and first-team All-Big West honors, and the team’s Mike Krukow Outstanding Pitcher award. Was drafted by the Phillies in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Cal Poly, where Howard was a business major.

2023

Was part of three different organizations in 2023. Started the season on Texas’ 15-day injured list with a right lat strain and was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 10. Assigned to Triple-A Round Rock and threw 3.2 hitless, scoreless innings with seven strikeouts over two rehab outings. Reinstated on June 5 and made one appearance out of the bullpen for the Rangers...gave up four runs on four hits over 0.1 innings and was optioned to Round Rock the following day. Appeared in seven outings for the Express before getting recalled on July 25. Played in two games with Texas and tossed another 3.0 hitless, scoreless innings. Was traded to the Yankees on Aug. 1 in exchange for cash...was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he appeared in just three outings before landing in the 7-day IL with a right shoulder strain. Was released by the Yankees on Aug. 30. Signed by the Giants to a minor league contract on Septembe22. Overall, went 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA (16er, 21.0ip) and 34 strikeouts over 12 Minor League appearances in the season. Appeared in three games at the Major League level, all with the Rangers...threw 3.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits (10.80 ERA).

2022

Posted a 2-4 record and 7.41 ERA (31 ER/37.2 IP) over 10 games/8 starts in two stints with Texas: Opening Day-4/29 and 7/5-9/28...made Major League Opening Day roster for the first time of his career…was on 10-day Injured List from 4/11-23 (Cracked fingernail and blister) and 15-day Injured List from 8/8- 9/28 (Right shoulder impingement)…record and ERA by month: April (0-1, 12.15), July (2-1, 4.18), August (0-2, 13.50)…earned his first win as a Ranger in Texas’ 10-8 victory on 7/11 vs. OAK (5.0 IP, 2 R-1 ER)… outdueled Shohei Ohtani (L, 6.0 IP, 2 R-ER) in Rangers’ 2-0 shutout win on 7/28 at LAA (W, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 SO, 76 pitches/53 strikes), his 26th birthday...became just the eighth pitcher in TEX history to win a start on his birthday (last Nick Martinez on 8/5/15 vs. HOU), the second to do it on the road (Nelson Briles, 8/5/77 at DET-G2)...ROUND ROCK: Also spent time at Round Rock (AAA) on option and injury rehab assignment, going 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA (31 ER/59.0 IP) and 11.1 strikeouts per 9.0 inn. figure over 14 G/12 GS...named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for June: 3-1, 2.53 ERA (9 ER/32.0 IP), 39 SO/12 BB, .165 opp. BA... selected PCL Pitcher of the Week for 6/27-7/3 after 11-strikeout game on 6/30 vs. Las Vegas (W, 7.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 SO)… tied his Minor League career high with 11 strikeouts, as he also had 11 on 4/23/19 with Clearwater (A+) in the PHI organization... became the first Express pitcher to tally double-digit strikeouts since HOU’s Framber Valdez had 13 on 8/12/19 at Albuquerque.

2021

Combined to go 0-5 with a 7.43 ERA (41 ER/49.2 IP) in 19 games/15 starts for Philadelphia and Texas, working on limited pitch counts in most of his outings…posted an 0-2 record and 5.72 ERA (18 ER/28.1 IP) in 11 G/7 GS over four stints with the Phillies prior to the trade (4/13, 4/21-25, 5/22-6/28, 7/21-29)...acquired by Texas from Philadelphia in a 6-player trade hours before the trade deadline on 7/30…made 8 starts with the Rangers after the trade, going 0-3 with a 9.70 ERA (23 ER/21.1 IP) and 8.9 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure...did not log more than 4.0 IP in any start and his highest pitch count was 73 in his final appearance of the season on 10/1 vs. CLE…missed 10 games during stint on COVID-19 Related Injured List (8/27- 9/7)…posted reverse splits, with RHB at .312 and LHB at .216… went 0-4, 9.93 (25 ER/22.2 IP) in 9 G/8 GS at home – incl. 0-3, 13.86 (19 ER/12.1 IP) in 5 GS at Globe Life Field – compared to 0-1, 5.33 (16 ER/27.0 IP) in 10 G/7 GS on the road.

MINORS IN 2021: Made seven total starts at the Triple-A level with Lehigh Valley in the PHI organization (6 GS) and Round Rock in the TEX organization (1 GS), combining to 1-1 with a 1.52 ERA (4 ER/23.2 IP)...was with Lehigh Valley for the start of their season in early May after initial MLB stint, starting the IronPigs’ 2nd game of the campaign on 5/5 vs. Rochester…only minor league outing with TEX came on MLB rehab assignment, 9/2 at El Paso…rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Philadelphia organization entering the season.

2020

Attended ML spring training and summer camp and began the season at the alternate training site in Lehigh Valley...Had his contract selected on 8/9 and made his ML debut that day vs ATL in the second game of a doubleheader as the starting pitcher...Rated as the No. 27 prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the season; was the first Phillies pitcher so highly ranked in the publication’s Top 100 to debut with the club since Cole Hamels (No. 17 in 2004, debuted in 2006) and just the fifth Phillies pitcher ever ranked as high to debut with the club l On 8/20 at TOR (gm 1), his first career road start, became the first Phillie to take the mound in a major league game in Buffalo since Charlie Ferguson on 9/19/1885... Earned his first ML win on 8/31 vs WSH l Was on the 10-day IL, 9/13-23, with right shoulder stiffness...Following the season, was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America.

2019

Selected as an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com...In 15 starts overall, posted a 2.03 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, had a .173 OPP AVG and averaged 11.92 SO/9.0 IP...Posted the lowest WHIP among all Phillies minor league pitchers (min. 70.0 IP)...Named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, 7/8-14...Was selected as Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week three times: 4/22-28, 7/8-14 and 8/5-11...Began the season with Clearwater (A) and finished with Reading (AA)...Was on the IL, 5/5-7/7, with right shoulder fatigue; included rehab assignments with Gulf Coast League Phillies West and East (R)...Struck out 10 of the 20 batters he faced in his Reading debut, 7/26 at New Hampshire...In a postseason start on 9/4 vs Trenton, struck out a professional-best 12 batters...Following the season, pitched for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.11 ERA (5 ER, 21.1 IP), .137 OPP AVG and 27 SO in six starts...Following the season, named the No. 1 prospect and rated as having the best fastball in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America; was also ranked the 27th-best prospect in baseball.

2018

Led all Phillies minor league pitchers in SO...Ranked T-1st in the South Atlantic League in SO, T-5th in wins and T-7th in starts & CG...Led all qualifying SAL starting pitchers with an 11.81 SO/9.0 IP ratio...Spent entire season with Lakewood (A)...Named Phillies Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month for April...Twice selected as SAL Pitcher of the Week (4/23-29 and 6/25-7/1)...Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, 6/25-7/1...Logged two 10-strikeout starts: 6/29 vs Hagerstown and 7/25 vs Greensboro...On 9/7 vs Kannapolis in Game 2 of the SAL Northern Division Championship Series, tossed the third 9.0-inning no-hitter in BlueClaws history (first in the playoffs)...His line from the no-hitter that helped Lakewood advance to the SAL Championship Series: W, 9.0 IP, BB, HB, 9 SO, 103 pitches...Won an MiLBY Award for "Best Performance" (both the fans' choice and MiLB.com staff choice) for his playoff no-hitter...Following the season, named the No. 8 prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2017

Began professional career with Williamsport (A)…Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, 8/21-27...Earned first pro win on 8/23 (gm 2) vs Auburn...Had a season-high 10 SO over 4.2 IP, 8/29 vs Auburn...Averaged 12.71 SO/9.0 IP...Held LHH to a .211 AVG (12-57) and RHH to a .217 AVG (10-46)…Participated in Florida Instructional League.