SF Giants sign former Phillies pitcher, top-100 prospect to milb deal

The SF Giants have signed former Phillies, Rangers, and Yankees right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard to a minor-league contract.

The SF Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard to a minor league contract, according to his official page on MLB.com. Howard was recently released by the New York Yankees in August but has appeared in 38 career MLB games between stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers from 2020-2023. With the minor league season nearly over, Howard's contract presumably spans through the 2024 campaign and could give him an opportunity to compete for a spot in big-league spring training next year.

Rangers RHP Spencer Howard (36) pitches against the Rays. (2023) / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Not long ago, Howard was considered a consensus top-50 prospect in all of the minor leagues. Originally drafted in the second round of the 2017 MLB draft out of Cal Poly by the Phillies, he soon became one of the top prospects in the organization. Howard recorded 147 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched at Single-A during his first full professional season. Then, in 2019 Howard posted a 2.03 ERA in 15 starts with 94 strikeouts in just 16 walks in 71 innings pitched, reaching Double-A before the end of the season.

At the peak of his stock, Howard had flashed a fastball that could sit in the mid-90s and reach 100 mph with above-average characteristics. He paired that with the changeup, slider, and curveball that all flashed the potential to be quality big-league pitches. However, there were some warning signs that Howard may not be able to maintain his arsenal.

Howard walked on at Cal Poly and transformed from a fringe college pitcher with a mid-80s fastball to one of the best pitching prospects in the minor leagues in just five years. The rapid increase in both workload and velocity seemed to take a toll on his arm. He missed time in 2018 with a dead arm, 2019 with shoulder soreness, and 2020 for shoulder stiffness.

The Phillies gave Howard his first big-league call-up during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He finished the season with a 5.92 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks across six starts. Howard would spend the early parts of 2021 bouncing between Triple-A and the majors with the Phillies, struggling with inconsistent big-league usage under manager Joe Girardi. At the trade deadline, Philadelphia packaged Howard in a deal that sent him to the Texas Rangers for Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy.

Howard has been critical of his tenure with the Phillies. He later said the team was too focused on immediate results in a way that hampered his long-term development, referring to the process as “polishing a turd.” However, the righty was never able to rekindle his early career success across three seasons with the Rangers.

From 2021-2023, Howard made 21 appearances (16 starts) with the Rangers, recording an 8.37 ERA (6.57 FIP) in 62.1 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts, 28 walks, and 18 home runs allowed. His fastball velocity remained in the mid-90s, but he was unable to corral consistent enough command to retire big-league hitters. Frustrated with his struggles, the Rangers traded Howard to the Yankees for cash considerations prior to the trade deadline. He only appeared in three games with New York’s Triple-A affiliate before he was placed on the injured list and eventually released.

Given his struggles, Spencer Howard likely profiles as a relief pitcher going forward. The SF Giants have had some success with retreads in their organization, primarily by emphasizing a greater use of their best secondary pitches. It’s worth noting that Howard’s changeup and slider have generated elite whiff rates north of 35% at times in the majors. Granted, his erratic control has undermined their ability to generate swings-and-misses by surrendering a ton of hard contact when he misses his location.