Once upon a time in 2021, Spencer Howard was the top prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies. MLB Pipeline had Howard’s fastball at a 65-grade, meaning it was fringing on plus-plus territory while his 60-grade changeup graded out as plus. However, it’s now 2024, and Howard is about to toe the rubber for his third team in three years after the Guardians acquired him from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations after being designated for assignment.
Now 27, Howard is out of minor league options, and while the Guardians are hoping to unlock what was once thought to be high level strikeout stuff from the former Baseball America top 30 prospect, it’ll really come down to one shot in Cleveland, which will begin in Detroit on Thursday.