Sam Howard continues progress in minors

Former Cartersville High School and Georgia Southern University left hand pitcher, Sam Howard, is continuing his progress in the minors with the Colorado Rockies’ Class A affiliate Asheville Tourists. Howard, a 6-3, 170, 22-year-old, was drafted in the third round last summer by Colorado. Asheville is currently tied for fifth in South Atlantic League Southern Division with a 29-33 record. The Tourists are five games back of the Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox affiliate) and the Savannah Sand Gnats (NY Mets). Those two teams are tied atop the division as the first half of the SAL season draws to a close. Howard has pitched 51.1 innings in 10 games — all starts. Opponents have a .235 batting average against him. He has 51 strikeouts and 10 walks with a 2-6 record and a 3.86 ERA. The local is coming off one of his best outings of the year last Tuesday night at home in Asheville against the Rome Braves.

Howard struck out seven Braves and allowed only one earned run on four hits and a pair of walks in six innings. He started the seventh, but was relieved in the inning. Although the Tourists eventually won that game, Rome rallied in the seventh to tie the game and left Howard with a no-decision start. Howard’s next start for Asheville is likely Sunday against Charleston or Tuesday at Savannah. The Tourists’ website did not list the probable starters for those two games, but those dates would fall within the rotation of his previously scheduled starts.

Fans may follow Sam Howard online at MiLB.com.