Spencer Howard #55

Spencer Lee Howard...did not receive any scholarship offers out of high school and chose to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and major in business…earned a spot on the baseball team as a walk-on and played three seasons for the Mustangs… went 8-1 with a 1.95 ERA (19 ER/87.2 IP) and 97 strikeouts during his final season in 2017, garnering second-team All-American and first-team All-Big West honors, and the team’s Mike Krukow Outstanding Pitcher award...played summer ball for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast Collegiate League in 2015-16...graduated in 2014 from Templeton (Calif.) High School, where he was an outfielder and pitcher on the baseball team…hit .306 at the plate and compiled a 7-3 record and 2.20 ERA on the mound as a senior, earning 2014 North San Luis Obispo County Player of the Year and Los Padres League Most Valuable Player honors…hobbies include hiking, going to the beach, outdoor activities, yoga and video games...signed by Philadelphia scout Shane Bowers…participated in Fan Fest (January 2023) and Texas Rangers Toy Drive (December 2022) events at Globe Life Field.

2022

Posted a 2-4 record and 7.41 ERA (31 ER/37.2 IP) over 10 games/8 starts in two stints with Texas: Opening Day-4/29 and 7/5-9/28...made Major League Opening Day roster for the first time of his career…was on 10-day Injured List from 4/11-23 (Cracked fingernail and blister) and 15-day Injured List from 8/8- 9/28 (Right shoulder impingement)…record and ERA by month: April (0-1, 12.15), July (2-1, 4.18), August (0-2, 13.50)…earned his first win as a Ranger in Texas’ 10-8 victory on 7/11 vs. OAK (5.0 IP, 2 R-1 ER)… outdueled Shohei Ohtani (L, 6.0 IP, 2 R-ER) in Rangers’ 2-0 shutout win on 7/28 at LAA (W, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 SO, 76 pitches/53 strikes), his 26th birthday...became just the eighth pitcher in TEX history to win a start on his birthday (last Nick Martinez on 8/5/15 vs. HOU), the second to do it on the road (Nelson Briles, 8/5/77 at DET-G2)...ROUND ROCK: Also spent time at Round Rock (AAA) on option and injury rehab assignment, going 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA (31 ER/59.0 IP) and 11.1 strikeouts per 9.0 inn. figure over 14 G/12 GS...named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for June: 3-1, 2.53 ERA (9 ER/32.0 IP), 39 SO/12 BB, .165 opp. BA... selected PCL Pitcher of the Week for 6/27-7/3 after 11-strikeout game on 6/30 vs. Las Vegas (W, 7.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 SO)… tied his Minor League career high with 11 strikeouts, as he also had 11 on 4/23/19 with Clearwater (A+) in the PHI organization... became the first Express pitcher to tally double-digit strikeouts since HOU’s Framber Valdez had 13 on 8/12/19 at Albuquerque.

2021

Combined to go 0-5 with a 7.43 ERA (41 ER/49.2 IP) in 19 games/15 starts for Philadelphia and Texas, working on limited pitch counts in most of his outings…posted an 0-2 record and 5.72 ERA (18 ER/28.1 IP) in 11 G/7 GS over four stints with the Phillies prior to the trade (4/13, 4/21-25, 5/22-6/28, 7/21-29)...acquired by Texas from Philadelphia in a 6-player trade hours before the trade deadline on 7/30…made 8 starts with the Rangers after the trade, going 0-3 with a 9.70 ERA (23 ER/21.1 IP) and 8.9 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure...did not log more than 4.0 IP in any start and his highest pitch count was 73 in his final appearance of the season on 10/1 vs. CLE…missed 10 games during stint on COVID-19 Related Injured List (8/27- 9/7)…posted reverse splits, with RHB at .312 and LHB at .216… went 0-4, 9.93 (25 ER/22.2 IP) in 9 G/8 GS at home – incl. 0-3, 13.86 (19 ER/12.1 IP) in 5 GS at Globe Life Field – compared to 0-1, 5.33 (16 ER/27.0 IP) in 10 G/7 GS on the road.

MINORS IN 2021: Made seven total starts at the Triple-A level with Lehigh Valley in the PHI organization (6 GS) and Round Rock in the TEX organization (1 GS), combining to 1-1 with a 1.52 ERA (4 ER/23.2 IP)...was with Lehigh Valley for the start of their season in early May after initial MLB stint, starting the IronPigs’ 2nd game of the campaign on 5/5 vs. Rochester…only minor league outing with TEX came on MLB rehab assignment, 9/2 at El Paso…rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Philadelphia organization entering the season.

2020

Attended ML spring training and summer camp and began the season at the alternate training site in Lehigh Valley...Had his contract selected on 8/9 and made his ML debut that day vs ATL in the second game of a doubleheader as the starting pitcher...Rated as the No. 27 prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the season; was the first Phillies pitcher so highly ranked in the publication’s Top 100 to debut with the club since Cole Hamels (No. 17 in 2004, debuted in 2006) and just the fifth Phillies pitcher ever ranked as high to debut with the club l On 8/20 at TOR (gm 1), his first career road start, became the first Phillie to take the mound in a major league game in Buffalo since Charlie Ferguson on 9/19/1885... Earned his first ML win on 8/31 vs WSH l Was on the 10-day IL, 9/13-23, with right shoulder stiffness...Following the season, was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America.

2019

Selected as an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com...In 15 starts overall, posted a 2.03 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, had a .173 OPP AVG and averaged 11.92 SO/9.0 IP...Posted the lowest WHIP among all Phillies minor league pitchers (min. 70.0 IP)...Named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, 7/8-14...Was selected as Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week three times: 4/22-28, 7/8-14 and 8/5-11...Began the season with Clearwater (A) and finished with Reading (AA)...Was on the IL, 5/5-7/7, with right shoulder fatigue; included rehab assignments with Gulf Coast League Phillies West and East (R)...Struck out 10 of the 20 batters he faced in his Reading debut, 7/26 at New Hampshire...In a postseason start on 9/4 vs Trenton, struck out a professional-best 12 batters...Following the season, pitched for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.11 ERA (5 ER, 21.1 IP), .137 OPP AVG and 27 SO in six starts...Following the season, named the No. 1 prospect and rated as having the best fastball in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America; was also ranked the 27th-best prospect in baseball.

2018

Led all Phillies minor league pitchers in SO...Ranked T-1st in the South Atlantic League in SO, T-5th in wins and T-7th in starts & CG...Led all qualifying SAL starting pitchers with an 11.81 SO/9.0 IP ratio...Spent entire season with Lakewood (A)...Named Phillies Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month for April...Twice selected as SAL Pitcher of the Week (4/23-29 and 6/25-7/1)...Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, 6/25-7/1...Logged two 10-strikeout starts: 6/29 vs Hagerstown and 7/25 vs Greensboro...On 9/7 vs Kannapolis in Game 2 of the SAL Northern Division Championship Series, tossed the third 9.0-inning no-hitter in BlueClaws history (first in the playoffs)...His line from the no-hitter that helped Lakewood advance to the SAL Championship Series: W, 9.0 IP, BB, HB, 9 SO, 103 pitches...Won an MiLBY Award for "Best Performance" (both the fans' choice and MiLB.com staff choice) for his playoff no-hitter...Following the season, named the No. 8 prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2017

Began professional career with Williamsport (A)…Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, 8/21-27...Earned first pro win on 8/23 (gm 2) vs Auburn...Had a season-high 10 SO over 4.2 IP, 8/29 vs Auburn...Averaged 12.71 SO/9.0 IP...Held LHH to a .211 AVG (12-57) and RHH to a .217 AVG (10-46)…Participated in Florida Instructional League.