Surprise! Howard Still Looking For First Pro Hit
On Monday, Howard received his first professional start, in a 9-5 loss, playing in left and batting eighth. He was hitless in two at-bats, with a strikeout, before being lifted for a pinch hitter.
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Anthony Howard helped lead the Quince Orchard Cougars to the 4A championship game batting .448 with four homeruns on the season and was selected to play in the Brooks Robinson All-Star game as shown here.
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
On June 23rd, Howard signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals who picked him in the 47th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft.
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
SURPRISE, AZ - Anthony Howard's dreams came true in 2009. He helped lead the Quince Orchard Cougars to the 4A championship game batting .448 with four homeruns on the season, he was selected to play in the Brooks Robinson All-Star game and with Team Maryland and on June 23rd he signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals who picked him in the 47th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft.
Now, he just needs a hit.
Howard made his professional debut, Sunday, pinch hitting for the Royals' Short-Season Arizona Rookie League Royals who play out of Surprise, Ariz. He batted for centerfielder Alex Lanos to lead off the eighth inning, struck out, and took over in center field in a 7-2 loss.
On Monday, Howard received his first professional start, in a 9-5 loss, playing in left and batting eighth. He was hitless in two at-bats, with a strikeout, before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Surprise did not play last night.
Howard had planned on playing next season at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Florida. He withdrew from Team Maryland play in anticipation of signing with Kansas City.
What, if any, signing bonus Howard received is unknown. MLB encouraged clubs to offer less money in signing bonuses this year, decreasing the slotted bonuses by 10%, due to the economic recession.
However, clubs are free to offer as much or as little as they wish and large bonuses are more affected. In any event, the most Howard would have received to sign is $1,000 to $2,000.
The maximum monthly pay for first year players in the Arizona Rookie League is $1,100 and all players receive $20 a day in meal money when on the road.
Only four Maryland high school players were taken in this year's MLB Amateur Draft and Howard was the only Montgomery County player selected.
The other players were: righty Braden Kline of Governor Thomas Johnson High taken by the Boston Red Sox with the 198th pick; shortstop Robbie Harris of Cardinal Gibbons went to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1071 overall and Smithsburg's outfielder Joshua Conway went to the Atlanta Braves via pick 1258.
At the Brooks Robinson All-Star game at Orioles Park in Camden Yards, Howard told GamedayMD that playing in a big league stadium "...is a once in a lifetime experience."
Howard has a lot of long bus rides ahead of him but if he can get some hits, it could be a once a day experience for him.
