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Mount Carmel baseball star, Ed Howard, a perfect fit for the Cubs
Oklahoma Sooners commit Ed Howard will go straight from Mount Carmel to the pros after being drafted 16th overall by his hometown Chicago Cubs in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Courtesy: @edhoward11/Instagram)

Mount Carmel baseball star, Ed Howard, a perfect fit for the Cubs

CHICAGO (BVM) – Sometimes things just work out to make a perfect fit. Ed Howard being selected 16th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2020 MLB Draft last month is a prime example.

Howard has grown up on the South Side of Chicago, and is a well-known name throughout the city, state and country thanks to his elite baseball abilities. Howard is a shortstop who first came on to the scene in 2014.

That year, he helped lead his Jackie Robinson West team to the Little League World Series. They defeated Las Vegas to win the U.S. title, where Howard would record the final out of the game on the pitcher’s mound. His smooth fielding and hitting alike would even earn him the nickname “Silk” from former MLB shortstop Barry Larkin during the tournament.

Although they were beaten by South Korea in the international championship game, the team was fun to watch and a great story with the entire Chicagoland area behind them.

Howard continued to make a name for himself during his prep baseball career. Playing at Mount Carmel High School, Howard developed into an elite defensive shortstop who can also swing the bat. In his junior season, Howard hit .421 with 11 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 33 RBIs.

Although he never got to play his senior baseball season at Mount Carmel with COVID-19 canceling spring sports, Howard still took home the Gatorade Illinois Baseball Player of the Year award this past spring. The honor not only recognized his play on the field, but also his work in the classroom and the volunteer efforts he has made as well.

As the award was announced, Howard’s coach at Mount Carmel, Brian Hurry, had this to say:

“In my 21 years as a head coach in Illinois, Ed Howard is the finest shortstop I have seen in this state,” Hurry said in a Gatorade press release. “He’s a humble, hardworking young man who just keeps getting better. His skill set is extremely advanced for our level and he has a realistic chance at a long career in professional baseball.” 

Hurry has not been the only one with those kinds of thoughts. Howard has been touted as the best shortstop in the country among this year’s high school and college draftees, and it was proved true in June. 

When the Cubs selected the shortstop 16th overall, he became the fifth high school player taken, but the first high school infielder. Howard also ended up being the first position player from Illinois selected in the first round since Jayson Werth was taken in 1997.

In addition, with their highest first round draft selection in the past five years, the Cubs made Howard their first high school draft pick in the first round since they selected Albert Almora Jr. in 2012. Howard also made history at Mount Carmel, becoming just the third baseball player from the school to be selected in the MLB Draft, and the first since 2005.

Howard was a member of the Team USA 18U team last year, and has gotten to play in several high profile games, including the Under Armour All-American game in 2019 held at Wrigley Field. Howard was also a member of the Chicago White Sox Amateur City Elite program, which aims to help Chicago area kids stay away from inner-city dangers.

Growing up on the South Side, the 6-foot-2 shortstop was always a White Sox fan. Many imagined he might get picked by his favorite team, as the Sox held the 11th pick in this year’s draft. Howard also has a close friendship with current White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.

However, the team from the South Side went with left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet at No. 11 instead. With Howard at the top of the Cubs draft board, the team was thrilled to see him fall to them at pick 16. 

Dan Kantrovitz was hired by the Cubs in December to fill the role of vice president of scouting for the team. He was one of the members of Theo Epstein’s front office who was highest on the Mount Carmel prospect. The infatuation reportedly became even greater after a Zoom call the team had with Howard, in which he was wearing his glove – something he later said that he often does at any time just due to his love for the game.

The baseball rivalry between North Side and South Side in Chicago is as good as they come. Most fans absolutely despise the rival side. But Howard has claimed he has always been a fan of both teams, and couldn’t be happier to be a Chicago Cub. Only time will tell how good the shortstop becomes, but there is little doubt the rivalry will only become greater if Howard becomes a star while wearing the red and blue when he could have been wearing the black and white.

During his prep career at Mount Carmel, Howard had committed to play baseball at the University of Oklahoma. However, plans have changed after being drafted into the MLB. Last month, Howard agreed to a $3,745,500 signing bonus with the Cubs, and will forgo college as he takes aim at the big leagues.

Although he leaves the college experience behind, Howard certainly has the potential to be called up to the big leagues sooner rather than later. While many still say his bat needs work to hit at the big league level, his fielding, sense of the game, and athleticism are all elite. 

Like most first round picks, Howard has a high level of potential, and it will be fun to see how he pans out in the Cubs organization over the next few years. Being drafted by his hometown team is already a great story, but if Howard keeps his career going the way it already has, that story is going to become even better in the coming years.