The Philadelphia Phillies select Spencer Howard in the MLB Draft

With the forty-fifth selection in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Philadelphia Phillies select Spencer Howard, a right-handed pitcher from California Polytechnic State University.

The Phillies came into this year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft with the eighth selection as this is the 4th straight year the Phillies have drafted inside the top 10. Unlike the NFL, NBA, and NHL, the MLB draft is very unique, some players drafted out of high school may decline their selection and go to university or college.

MLB clubs typically wait a few years until their player is ready for the big leagues, but building a strong farm system is key to building an MLB roster with stars and sustainable depth.

After selecting Adam Haseley, the Outfielder from Virginia in the first round, the Philadelphia Phillies GM, Matt Klentak and the scouting department selected, Spencer Howard, a right-handed pitcher that used a 4 pitch arsenal to dominate the Big West Conference.

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Spencer Howard’s fastball as been consistently clocked at 93-94 MPH with his secondary pitch being an above average slider which he brings to the plate at around 80-84 MPH. Howard also uses a cutter as well as a change-up to round out the 4 pitches he utilizes.

Spencer Howard, who was ranked the 99th best prospect on the MLB.com top 200 players to watch, may look like a reach at pick 45 but he has been rising up the draft board in MLB circles and has been climbing since coming from the bullpen earlier this season. In 87.2 innings, Spencer Howard has posted a 1.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 4.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season.

The Phillies could have waited and hoped Howard was available in the 3rd round. In the second round, it seems like this may be an overdraft even if they think he could turn into a number 2 or 3 starter. The Phillies and Klentak could be saving money with this pick by over drafting a prospect that was not projected to be drafted in the 2nd.

Howard does have some support from a former member of the Phillies and Cal Poly alum, Matt Imhof:

A saving grace could be that the Phillies are looking to fast track Howard to the bigs for some immediate help. Regardless, Spencer Howard will be an interesting prospect to watch, with the hopes Phillies fans get to see him in some Red and White soon.