Around the Horn With Howell Central's Ryan Howard
October 19, 2011
Prep Baseball Report Missouri recently had a chance to catch up with standout Francis Howell Central INF/RHP Ryan Howard (right), who is fresh off top-performer honors at our most recent Prospect ID Showcase. At the event, Howard (6-foot-1, 165-pounds) showed good rhythm at the plate, as well as a short, compact swing that yielded line drives all over the field. In the field, the athletic infielder played through the ball well at shortstop and showcased an 88 mph arm across the diamond. On the mound, his fastball sat between 82-84 mph, as he showed the ability to command three pitches for strikes.
Last spring as a sophomore, Howard hit .310 with a .348 OBP for the Spartans while driving in 11 runs. As he enters his junior year, Howard shared his thoughts with PBR Missouri about the recruiting process, his summer season, and his goals for the upcoming year.
PBR: As you enter your junior season, which schools are you interested in playing at?
Howard: I have interest in several schools I haven’t ruled any out . Once I start going on more campus visits and see the schools and meet the coaches I will be able to make a better decision. Also I want to go to a school where I will have a good chance to succeed in the classroom.
PBR: Similarly, what schools have shown significant interest?
Howard: I have gotten interest from Austin Peay, Louisville, SIU Carbondale, Mizzou, Kansas, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Missouri State, Indiana, and Cincinnati.
PBR: Considering that you’re both an infielder and right-handed pitcher, have you drawn more interest for one than the other?
Howard: I have gotten more interest playing infield I have only pitched a limited amount in high School, and summer ball.
PBR: If you had to choose between playing a position and pitching in college, which would you prefer?
Howard: If I had to choose I would prefer playing a position I like having the opportunity to play everyday.
PBR: Do you feel that playing in St. Louis and facing the competition you do has prepared you for the various showcase events you’ve attended?
Howard: I feel like St. Louis baseball is improving all the time. You here about several players going on to play high level college ball from St. Louis. After all this traveling I did this year I feel some of the best baseball is in St. Louis
PBR: What are your thoughts on the implementation of BBCOR bats from both a hitting and pitching perspective?
Howard: The BBCOR bats will have a huge effect on the games. From a pitching perspective you want to make sure you throw strikes and make the batters drive the ball to bring in runs. From a hitting perspective the BBCOR bats don’t have the same “pop” as BESR, which will bring a lot more small ball into the game. Look for a lot of low scoring games.
PBR: What team did you play for over the summer and how did it go for you? Were there any aspects of your game that you wanted to improve during the summer?
Howard: I played for the St. Louis Pirates and really enjoyed it all season. It’s a very good program with an outstanding training facility. The main thing I wanted to improve during the summer is my speed; my goal is to run under a 7.0 by high school season.
PBR: As you head into your junior year, what are your thoughts on the recruiting process thus far?
Howard: Heading into my junior year I think the recruiting process is a little bit stressful in trying to make the right decision.
PBR: What do you hope to accomplish this fall and off-season on an individual level?
Howard: This fall and off season my main goal is to get bigger, faster and stronger. I need to get bigger so I can drive the ball into the gaps. I need to gain more speed so I can play shortstop in college.