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Philadelphia Phillies: 4 keys to dominating the NL East for years to come

By Will Bullitt

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a ball from Yoshitomo Tsutsugo #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field on September 27, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a ball from Yoshitomo Tsutsugo #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field on September 27, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia Phillies
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Spencer Howard #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a spring training game at Phillies Spring Training Ball Park on March 05, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

Spencer Howard

Spencer Howard is the top pitching prospect in the organization, having spent the majority of the shortened 2020 season in Philadelphia with the Phillies. He’s not quite there yet, we know that for sure.

He didn’t always have total command of his pitches, leaving himself in vulnerable situations with big league hitters that he could have maybe gotten away with in the minors, but not the majors. This is something that will get better over time, as he wasn’t exactly placed in the best situation to thrive, with there being no fans and in a shortened season.

However, there are certainly flashes, and the Phillies and Girardi believe that these flashes are more than enough to build on for the future. One of those flashes, without a doubt, is his curveball and how effective it can be. And just for reference, Spencer Howard is entering his age 24 season; Aaron Nola did not have his breakout season until he was 25, after being in the league for three years.

There is nothing but time and optimism when it comes to Howard, and if he can specifically start to locate his fastballs more efficiently, the location of the curveballs and changeups will come, making him a potential nightmare for NL East hitters.

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