SPENCER HOWARD NEWS

Set to enter rotation Howard will be called up to start Saturday against Boston, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Phillies would have preferred to bring Howard along slowly at the Triple-A level, but ineffectiveness from their other back-end starter options means he'll get the call after just three minor-league outings. Those starts spanned a total of just nine innings, and he maxed out at four frames in his most recent appearance, so he's unlikely to push towards 100 pitches right away. What exactly he'll offer the Phillies this year is something of a mystery, as he's a highly rated prospect but has so far struggled to a 6.28 ERA in 28.2 major-league innings, striking out a modest 23.1 percent of opposing batters after posting a career strikeout rate of 33.0 percent in 50 minor-league starts.

MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Strong start at Triple-A Howard owns a 1.00 ERA a 38.2 percent strikeout rate through his first three starts of the year for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, including an eight-strikeout performance in his most rec...

Impact The Phillies' plan all along seemed to be to manage Howard's innings carefully in the minors during the early part of the season before calling him up as a major-league rotation member later in the year. He's back on that path after making three big-league relief appearances in April when the team needed an extra arm. The young righty still isn't close to a true starter's workload, as he faced just nine batters in his first two Triple-A outings and 16 in his most recent one, so a promotion doesn't appear imminent, but the Phillies haven't gotten much from their fifth starter spot, meaning there won't anyone blocking Howard once he's ready to go.

MAY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Deivi Garcia, Spencer Howard among top prospects set to visit WooSox, Polar Park Some of the best of MLB's future could be visiting Worcester in the present

MAY 10, 2021 • MASSLIVE.COM

Philadelphia Phillies take long term view with Spencer Howard It is easy to overreact to the Philadelphia Phillies' decision to send Spencer Howard to their alternate site. He had not received much acti...

APRIL 28, 2021 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

Wheeler takes 1-hitter into 9th as Phillies deck Cards 2-1

Zack Wheeler took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning and Rhys Hoskins homered twice as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1

APRIL 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Optioned to alternate site Howard was optioned to the Phillies' alternate training site Monday.

Impact Howard is expected to stretch out as a starter with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. That's seemingly been the team's plan all along, but they were forced to call the young righty up as a reliever twice already this season. He struggled to an 8.31 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 4.1 innings of work, though he did manage to strike out eight batters. Matt Moore returns from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.

APRIL 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

With series in jeopardy, Spencer Howard provides relief for Phillies PHILADELPHIA — It didn't take an eye closing moment Wednesday afternoon to see an ugly bullpen scene from the night before start to play out...

APRIL 22, 2021 • DELCOTIMES.COM

Knapp's 9th-inning single leads Phillies past Giants 6-5

Andrew Knapp hit the winning single in the ninth inning, Bryce Harper  hit a tying solo homer in the seventh and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Called up to big club The Phillies recalled Howard from their alternate training site Wednesday.

Impact Philadelphia currently has an opening in the rotation with Matt Moore on the COVID-19 injured list, but Howard, the organization's top pitching prospect, will likely work in long relief while he's up with the big club. Vince Velasquez will be called upon to make a spot start in place of Moore on Friday in Colorado, and Howard could be an option to eat innings behind Velasquez if he isn't needed out of the bullpen in Wednesday's series finale against the Giants.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent back to alternate site Howard was optioned to the Phillies' alternate site Wednesday.

Impact Howard's first major-league appearance of the season came in a one-inning relief stint during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets. He allowed a run on two hits, walking one and striking out one. He's clearly seen by the Phillies as one of their top pitching options not currently on the big-league squad, and he's likely to join the active roster for good at some point this year, but it's not clear when that time will come.

APRIL 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stroman pitches Mets past Phils 4-0 to sweep doubleheader

Back on the mound two days after an abbreviated start, Marcus Stroman tossed six spotless innings and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 for a doubleheader sweep

APRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Available out of bullpen Tuesday The Phillies recalled Howard (back) from their taxi squad and designated him as the 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader with the Mets, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer repor...

Impact Howard's bid for a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day rotation was foiled by a bout of back spasms in mid-March, but he appears to have returned to full health since the conclusion of spring training. Philadelphia will continue to develop Howard as a starter, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for the twin bill before likely returning to the alternate site.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could fill hybrid role Howard (back) is still viewed as a starter long-term, but the Phillies intend to use him in a hybrid role this season when he returns to the big leagues, Matt Gelb of The Athletic...

Impact Back troubles prevented Howard from pushing for an Opening Day rotation role, though they aren't considered a long-term issue. Howard will open the year in the minors due to his lost buildup time this spring, but he could be back in the big leagues before too long. Rather than keep him stretched out at Triple-A, however, the Phillies intend for him to rejoin the big-league squad and pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen or potentially make short starts of no more than two or three innings. It's possible Howard will be a true starter by the end of the year, but the Phillies don't want to use up too many of his innings too early in the season.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A Howard (back) was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 24-year-old has been battling back spams for the past couple weeks, which complicated his potential path to a spot on the Opening Day roster. Howard should be fully healthy before long and figures to factor into the rotation for the Phillies at some point in 2021.

MARCH 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ready for bullpen session Howard (back) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Howard should start games at some point this season, but he appeared set to open in the bullpen or minors even before being scratched from his scheduled Monday appearance due to back spasms. Zach Eflin's back issue could theoretically open up a temporary role should Howard recover before Eflin does, but Eflin will also throw a bullpen session Sunday, so that seems unlikely. If Howard checks out fine following his bullpen, he should be able to return to Grapefruit League action sometime next week.

MARCH 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

May throw Sunday Howard (back) could throw a bullpen session Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Howard was scratched from his scheduled outing Monday against the Yankees due to back spasms and remains shut down, but the Phillies are hopeful he'll be able to throw again soon. In addition to Howard, Zach Eflin (back) and Vince Velasquez (oblique) are also dealing with injuries, so it's possible the healthiest of the trio opens the year in the rotation. If none of the three are ready to go, non-roster invitee Ivan Nova could win a temporary job.

MARCH 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Still shut down Howard is still experiencing back spasms Wednesday and won't throw over the next few days, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Howard was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League appearance Monday due to back spasms, and the right-hander is still working through the issue. Howard had looked good to begin spring training and displayed improved velocity and conditioning, but he could be excluded from the Opening Day roster if he isn't ready in time for the regular season. Although Howard could be forced to work out of the bullpen after the Phillies acquired Matt Moore and Chase Anderson during the offseason, the 24-year-old should be one of the team's top options to fill in as a starter once he's fully healthy.

MARCH 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched with back spasms Howard was scheduled to throw two innings Monday against the Yankees but was scratched due to back spasms, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Impact Howard had been looking good this spring, with his velocity and conditioning both in a better place than they were during his disappointing rookie season, but he already appeared likely to open the year in the bullpen or minors due to the offseason acquisitions of Matt Moore and Chase Anderson. While the back issue doesn't appear to be a particularly serious one, it could keep him off the Opening Day roster given that his spot already appeared precarious to begin with. Even if he fails to crack the rotation to start the year, however, he should be one of the top options to step into a starting role when someone ahead of him gets hurt, so he could certainly still earn a fair number of starts at some point this year.

MARCH 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mets celebrate World Series title -- in their minds

Michael Conforto and his New York Mets sprinted to celebrate the World Series title

MARCH 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Role remains uncertain Howard has impressed in camp but isn't necessarily favored to open the season in the Phillies' rotation, Todd Zolecki reports.

Impact Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin are locked into the top three spots, and the Phillies signed veteran starters Matt Moore and Chase Anderson to major-league deals, which suggests they're favored for the final two openings. Howard is one of the Phillies' top prospects and should be a rotation staple eventually, but he'd made just six Double-A starts prior to his big-league debut last year and didn't look good at the highest level. The impressive strikeout prowess he'd shown in the minors didn't manifest in his first six major-league starts, as he struck out a modest 20.4 percent of opposing batters en route to a 5.92 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. His fastball had previously sat in the upper 90s but averaged a comparatively modest 94.1 mph, and his conditioning didn't look great. His velocity and conditioning appear to be back this spring, but that might not be enough to keep him from opening in the bullpen or minors.

MARCH 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

McCaffery: For spring surprises, Phillies have a deep, versatile pitching staff Joe Girardi may use Chase Anderson at the back of his rotation, but only if he decides to go with Spencer Howard.

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • DELCOTIMES.COM

Phils expect a healthy Howard going forward CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Spencer Howard wondered more than anybody what he had cooking in his right shoulder last season. The 24-year-old experie...

FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • MLB.COM

Improved Phillies seeking to end 9-year postseason drought

Joe Girardi held up the Philadelphia Phillies’ roster on a sheet of paper and made it clear improvements in the offseason don’t matter once players hit the field

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chase Anderson, Phillies finalize $4 million, 1-year deal

Right-hander Chase Anderson and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized their  $4 million, one-year contract

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS