There was a time when Spencer Howard was considered one of the brightest pitching prospects in baseball. Entering the 2021 season, he was widely viewed as a future mainstay in the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation. Howard carried lofty rankings, including No. 27 by Baseball America, No. 42 by MLB Pipeline, and No. 65 by Baseball Prospectus. The Phillies and their fans had high hopes that Howard would develop into a frontline starter capable of anchoring the team’s staff for years to come.
However, as Howard’s career illustrates, being a top prospect does not guarantee long-term success in the majors. In 47 appearances, including 32 starts at the MLB level, Howard owns a career ERA of 7.00. Despite flashes of talent, consistency eluded him. Over the years, he has bounced around four organizations, struggling to capitalize on opportunities that once seemed destined to define his career.
Five years after his MLB debut, Howard is taking a new path, heading overseas to join the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. For Howard, it’s a chance to reset his career and perhaps rediscover the promise that once made him a top prospect.
Howard first rose to prominence in 2019, following a breakout season in the minors. That year, he pitched to a 2.03 ERA across 15 starts split between High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. His season ended on a high note with an impressive Arizona Fall League performance for the Scottsdale Scorpions, where he allowed just five runs in 27.1 innings while striking out a remarkable number of batters. It was clear that Howard had the raw talent to succeed at the highest level.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 minor league season, but Howard remained on the Phillies’ 60-player reserve list and made his MLB debut on July 24, 2020, against the Atlanta Braves. He made six starts that season, finishing with a 5.92 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and 10 walks over 24.1 innings. While not dominant, it was a solid first glimpse of what he could offer.
The following year proved more challenging. Howard began 2021 as a long reliever, making three appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He returned to the majors as a starter in May, but only managed seven more starts before being traded to the Texas Rangers in a six-player deal that sent Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy to Philadelphia. Howard’s tenure with the Phillies concluded with 17 appearances and 13 starts, posting a 5.81 ERA across 52.2 innings.
Howard’s journey continued as he sought another major league opportunity. In May 2024, he was added to the roster of the Yomiuri Giants, but after seven appearances, including two starts, he struggled to a 5.63 ERA and was designated for assignment. The Cleveland Guardians then gave Howard a chance, but it was short-lived; five runs in five innings led to him declining an outright assignment and becoming a free agent. Now, he has returned to the Giants, ready to prove that his talent can translate in a new environment.
For Spencer Howard, the road has been rocky, but the opportunity in Japan offers a fresh start—a chance to reignite the career that once had fans dreaming of a Phillies rotation anchored by him. Sometimes, the greatest comeback stories happen far from home.
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