GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Right after completing an ordinary bullpen session at the Cincinnati Reds minor league spring training, reliever Nick Howard smiles as he says, “Obviously, my history is a little complex and complicated.”
It’s been eight years since the Reds drafted Howard in the first round of the MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia. Since then, he pitched two “normal” seasons in the Minors, and he missed the entire 2017 season and half of 2018 with a shoulder injury. In 2019, the Reds released him, and he went nearly two full years without appearing in a Minor League game.
Howard signed with the Reds in 2021 as a Minor League free agent, and after a solid year in the Minors he sees the dream of pitching in the big leagues as a possibility for the first time in years.
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“I will probably be 80 years old saying, ‘How did that (all) happen?’” Howard said. “But it’s given me great perspective. Time obviously helps. It wasn’t the quickest of progressions. I’m just glad to be on the other side of it and just enjoying the game again.”
Between 2014 and 2020, Howard had as winding of a journey as anyone in the Reds organization. There were stretches when he couldn’t stay healthy. There were stretches when he couldn’t find the strike zone.
There were stretches when both of those were true.
In 2016, Howard posted a 6.75 ERA in A-Ball. In 2018, he posted a 6.23 ERA in A-Ball. Howard pitched in three Double-A games in 2019 before the Reds released their former first round pick. He stuck with his trademark fastball and slider the whole way, but Howard said he didn’t have the same confidence that he had when he was a top prospect.
Howard spent the last two months of the 2019 season and the entire 2020 season in the Kansas City Royals organization, but he didn’t pitch in a game. Heading into 2021, Howard was thinking about making a fresh start, but he valued an opportunity to pitch for an organization that already knew about the ups and downs of his career.
“They kind of understood everything I have kind of gone through,” Howard said. “If I went somewhere else, it might be a little bit of a different story. It’s always good to see familiar faces and get into the swing of things with people I have known for a while.”
In 2021, Howard reported to Goodyear, Arizona, in April for minor league spring training. He was one of the oldest players there, surrounded by prospects who were in the position that Howard had been in a few years earlier.
Howard says he told those pitchers “war stories” about his experience dealing with adversity. Meanwhile, his biggest concern was staying healthy for a full season for the first time in years.
“There’s always kind of the fear of the unknown,” Howard said. “I felt as prepared as I could be, and I was able to put together a healthy year last year. That was priority No. 1, just being able to get through a season without any hiccups.”
Howard started the year in Double-A, and he was the most effective reliever on the team. He posted a 2.25 ERA over 22 appearances. In his eighth year of Minor League Baseball, Howard finally earned his first promotion to Triple-A.
“I adapted the mindset of being the aggressor,” Howard said. “Hopefully more times than not, hopefully, the ball bounces in your favor. That’s kind of my approach. It’s what I’ve been sticking to since I’ve been making my way back.”
Howard made his Triple-A debut on July 21, and he didn’t allow a run in any of his first five appearances. But then on Aug. 11, he allowed four runs in one inning. On Aug. 19, he allowed three runs without recording an out. On Aug. 28, the exact same thing happened.
In his 20 games in Triple-A last season, Howard had a 7.20 ERA. It was similar to the adversity he had faced earlier in his career, but Howard said he was better prepared for how to respond to it.
“Especially with my history, baseball is tough enough, and it’s one thing to go out there and beat yourself.” Howard said.
“Sometimes I have to take my own advice. It’s easy to say it, but in Louisville (I) hit a speed bump. Keep that positive mindset and hopefully it goes your way.”
The Reds saw enough potential in Howard to give him another shot in 2022. As he reported to Goodyear for minor league spring training, Howard decided to approach the experience like it was his first year as a professional pitcher.
Howard has a new perspective on pitching fielding practice, routine bullpen sessions and his weight lifting schedule.
“Everybody probably thinks these are boring days,” Howard said. “For me, I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Playing a good game of 90-foot catch makes me happy nowadays. I’ve come full circle. I don’t have any regrets, but this has definitely given me a perspective on the game.”
Howard still uses the same pitch repertoire that made him a first round pick in 2014. In his bullpen session on Sunday, Howard’s slider darted across the strike zone as members of the Reds front office closely looked on.
After his bullpen, Howard had a long, philosophical conversation with pitching coordinator Casey Weathers. Howard is using more data and analytics to inform his approach on the mound, and he’s beginning to see the results.
Over the last eight years, most of the Reds’ approach to pitching development has changed. From the coaching to the technology to the personnel, Howard has seen the entire journey.
And entering 2022, Howard has reached the point where he’s confident he can finally make the jump to the Majors.
“I (always) knew it was a big deal when people got drafted or made their big league debut, and they’re crying,” Howard said. “If it happens this year, it’ll be an emotional moment. I understand now why it’s such a big deal.”
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