Nick

Howard

Howard was cut loose from a minor league deal with the Reds earlier this offseason and winds up landing with the Braves. The 29-year-old former first-round pick has yet to reach the majors and spent the majority of last year pitching for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League.

Howard was released by the Reds last May and wound up making 22 solid relief appearances for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League to close out last year. The 29-year-old former first-round selection will get another shot in Cincinnati’s organization as a reliever this upcoming season. He’s merely organizational pitching depth at this stage of his career.

Howard was the Reds’ first-round selection back in 2014 and never wound up making it to the majors. The 29-year-old righty allowed 20 runs (16 earned) on 25 hits with a 14/14 K/BB ratio across 13 1/3 innings (14 appearances) this season at Triple-A Louisville.

Howard, a first-round selection of the Reds back in 2014, has yet to reach the major leagues and posted an underwhelming 4.50 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 51/36 K/BB ratio across 44 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville last season. The 28-year-old former top prospect is merely organizational relief depth at this stage of his career.

Howard -- originally a first round pick of the Reds from the 2014 draft -- latched on with the Royals after being released by the Reds in June of 2019, but never appeared in a game for them. He owns a 4.38 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 147 2/3 innings in a minor league career that has been plagued by injuries. He’ll report to minor league camp.

Howard, a first-round pick in 2014, was released by the Reds in June after giving up seven runs (four earned) over 3 1/3 innings with Double-A Chattanooga. Now 26, he’s compiled a 5.55 ERA over 101 appearances in the minors, mostly as a reliever. He’s strictly minor league depth.

The nature of his injury hasn’t been announced, but the move is retroactive to July 11, the day after he allowed three walks in 2/3 innings. Howard has struggled this year in his first full professional season, posting a 6.63 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, 11.8 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 over 38 innings in the Florida State League. The 22-year-old right-hander was moved from Daytona’s starting rotation to the bullpen in early May after just five starts, but he’s actually fared worse in the latter role, pitching to an 8.38 ERA, 2.43 WHIP and 12.6 BB/9 in 19 1/3 innings (19 appearances). That being said, the 2014 first-rounder should see more results once his control improves, as he’s allowed only 34 hits (zero home runs) in 38 innings this season while holding opposing hitters to a .258 average.

Howard was the Cavaliers’ closer this season, saving 19 games with a 2.15 ERA and a 50/12 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings. He throws 94-98 mph as a closer, but he is a former starter and the Reds will almost certainly take a look at him back in the rotation. What will be interesting to see is whether they try him as a reliever this year first. If so, he could be a factor in the majors in the second half of the season.

Howard faced four batters, striking out one while pitching a perfect seventh inning, picking up the win. After playing third base and making 12 starts for Virginia in 2012, he became Virginia’s closer in 2014, employing a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and 12-to-6 curveball to dominate batters in short bursts. The Reds are going to develop Howard as a starting pitcher, and, if his slider and change-up can turn into average offerings, he could be a frontline starter.

Baseball America’s Jim Callis says Howard will receive $1.9905 million, which is a little under the assigned slot value for the No. 19 pick of $2.0905 million. Howard was Virginia’s closer this season, but the Reds are expected to try him out as a starter first.