Spencer Howard's first career start with the Phillies over the weekend wasn't a storybook debut - but in such an unusual season, and considering the high expectations, it also could've been way worse.
He flashed some good stuff, struck out his last batter, and came away with some building blocks for his next appearance.
Howard appeared on former Phillie Kevin Frandsen's podcast to chat about his MLB debut, including what went well, what he wants to improve, and - most importantly - baseball uniforms.
Because the youngster managed to make his major league debut in the Phillies' throwback blues, lending a little extra stylish pizazz to what was already a big day, both for Howard and the organization:
Frandsen asked Howard during the podcast what his first thought was when he saw his own uniform hanging in the Phillies' clubhouse, and Howard had a fantastic answer:
HOWARD: That those are probably the best unis in baseball, man, the baby blues.
FRANDSEN: And you got to make your debut in that!
[...]
HOWARD: It's so pretty, they're so comfortable. It was incredible.
MLB
While Phillies fans will likely see Howard in the greys or the red pinstripes more often than not, it's probably so cool to make your first start in a universally-beloved throwback uniform.
A little later on during the appearance, Frandsen asked Howard about a sneaky big part of a player's identity: the number!
FRANDSEN: Are you a big number guy? Did you want a certain number? Were you hoping for a certain number? Did you want to keep 83?
HOWARD: No, I - definitely not 83 [laughs] - I'm not too big on it, but I think 48 is nice. I was more curious, than anything, to see what they'd give me.
FRANDSEN: What did you want?
HOWARD: Out of all the available ones, I was shooting for 28, maybe? Hoping?
Frandsen, of course, pointed out that he wore No. 28 with the Phillies. A true legend. The most notable recent Phillie to wear No. 28? Jayson Werth, from 2007 to 2010. Since then, Frandsen, Kevin Correia, Erik Kratz, Vince Velasquez, and Mike Morin have donned the number.
A decade between important players feels like enough time for Howard to claim the No. 28, if he feels like making the switch.
Or he could stick with No. 48, a number without much significant Phillies history, and make it his own. Up to him.
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