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Sam Howard
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-03-05) March 5, 1993 (age 31)
Cartersville, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 2018, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record7–7
Earned run average5.34
Strikeouts112
Teams

Sam James Howard (born March 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

Howard attended Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia. Out of high school, the Chicago Cubs selected Howard in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He did not sign with Chicago, [1] instead enrolling at Georgia Southern University, where he played college baseball for the Georgia Southern Eagles. [2] In 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [3]

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies selected Howard in the third round, with the 82nd overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft. [2] [4] He signed with the Rockies, receiving a $672,100 signing bonus. [5] Howard made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, [1] where he spent all of 2014, posting a 1–3 win–loss record with a 5.40 earned run average (ERA) in 14 games. In 2015, he played for the Asheville Tourists of the Class A South Atlantic League [6] where he went 11–9 with a 3.43 ERA, along with a 1.22 WHIP. Howard began the 2016 season with the Modesto Nuts of the Class A-Advanced California League, [7] and received a midseason promotion to the Hartford Yard Goats of the Class AA Eastern League. [8] In 27 total games between Modesto and Hartford, Howard pitched to a 9–9 record and 3.35 ERA.

Howard was invited by the Rockies to 2017 spring training. He returned to Hartford to begin 2017, and after posting a 2.33 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 46.1 innings, he was promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, where he finished the season, going 4–4 with a 3.89 ERA. [9] The Rockies added him to their 40-man roster after the season. [10]

Howard began the 2018 season with Albuquerque. He made his major league debut on June 10. [11] He threw four innings for the Rockies with a 2.25 ERA. He also had a 5.06 ERA in 21 games started for Albuquerque. The Rockies non-tendered him after the 2018 season. [12] Howard later re-signed to a minor league contract on December 18, 2018. [13] On July 21, 2019, the Rockies selected Howard's contract. [14]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On October 30, 2019, Howard was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. [15] Becoming a relief pitcher in 2020, Howard had a 2-0 record and a 3.86 ERA with 27 strikeouts against nine walks in 21 innings pitched. [16] In 2021, he had a 3-4 record and a 5.60 ERA in 45 innings. [17]

Howard began the 2022 season with the Pirates, allowing two runs in two innings pitched before he was optioned to the Indianapolis Indians on May 2. [18] On May 7, Howard was designated for assignment by the Pirates. [19]

Detroit Tigers

On May 13, 2022, the Detroit Tigers claimed Howard off of waivers and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens. [20] On July 5, 2022, Howard was designated for assignment. [21] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Toledo five days later. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

References

  1. ^ a b "Colorado Rockies draftee Sam Howard puts up zeros in pro debut with Grand Junction Rockies". MiLB.com. June 26, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Heath, Donald (June 8, 2014). "Georgia Southern's LHP Sam Howard takes game to next level". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  3. ^ "#32 Sam Howard – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "Rockies take Howard". Statesboro Herald. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "Colorado Rockies have reached agreement with Sam Howard, their third-round Draft pick". MLB.com. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Colorado Rockies prospect Sam Howard goes the distance for Asheville Tourists". MiLB.com. July 27, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  7. ^ "Howard strikes out 10 as Modesto Nuts blank San Jose Giants". Modesto Bee. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Howard Earns First Win As Yard Goats Defeat Mets". Hartford Courant. July 16, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "Sam Howard Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  10. ^ Gilbert, Steve (May 24, 2018). "Rockies protect 4 players with 40-man roster | Colorado Rockies". M.rockies.mlb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Nicholas (June 11, 2018). "Cartersville's Howard gets called up, pitches scoreless inning in MLB debut". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  12. ^ Harding, Thomas (May 24, 2018). "Rockies tender contracts to 7 arb-eligibles". MLB.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  13. ^ Eddy, Matt (January 12, 2019). "Minor League Transactions: Dec 19 – Jan 10". Baseball America. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  14. ^ Saunders, Patrick (July 21, 2019). "Veteran slugger Mark Reynolds designated for assignment by Rockies". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  15. ^ DiPaola, Joe (October 30, 2019). "Pirates claim relief pitcher Sam Howard from Rockies". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  16. ^ Gorman, Kevin (November 15, 2020). "Pirates A to Z: Lefty Sam Howard revived his career by thriving in relief role". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  17. ^ Gorman, Kevin (November 11, 2021). "Pirates A to Z: Lefty Sam Howard struggled with injuries, still showed effective slider". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Pirates option Sam Howard, Miguel Yajure as MLB rosters trim to 26 players". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Polishuk, Mark (May 8, 2022). "Pirates Place Roberto Perez On 10-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Woodbery, Evan (May 13, 2022). "Tigers claim left-handed reliever off waivers from Pirates". MLive.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  21. ^ "Tigers DFA lefty reliever, add Drew Hutchison to roster". mlive. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.

External links