Howard Overcomes Injury as Minor League Prospect

This has been a rough baseball season for Anthony Howard, the Quince Orchard High graduate who is now in his third season in the Kansas City Royals' farm system.

He injured his left (throwing) arm midway through spring training in Surprise, AZ and that delayed the start of his season with the Royals team in the Arizona League.

But things are starting to look up for Howard, a Rockville native who was drafted in the 47th round by the Royals out of Quince Orchard in 2009.

He hit .400 with three homers in just 25 at bats earlier this season in the Arizona League and is now playing for the Burlington (NC) Royals in the rookie advanced Appalachian League.

"I am starting to feel comfortable and stay positive," Howard told Patch on Friday, the day after he hit his first homer of the season for Burlington. "Overall I am happy to still be with the Kansas City Royals and be a member of the team in North Carolina."

Howard, an outfielder, played his first game this year for Burlington on July 21 in Danville, Va. In his first nine games with Burlington this season hit .143 with the one homer in 28 at bats.

Burlington is about five hours from the Washington area. Howard lives with other teammates about five minutes from Burlington Athletic Stadium, the home of the Royals. The regular-season in the Appy League ends Aug. 30.

What is the difference between the Arizona League and the Appy League? "The pitchers don't throw around the plate (in Arizona). They are pretty out of control," Howard said. "Here, there is more control and more off-speed pitches on fastball counts."

Howard said had he not been drafted out of high school he would have looked into attending a junior college. "I had my mind set on playing pro ball. I am glad to be here. I am happy to be back in Burlington. I am starting to get back into it. Last night I had a decent game," Howard he said after getting one hit in three at bats Aug. 4.

One of his teammates in Burlington is pitcher Eric Cantrell, who played at Oakton High in Northern Virginia and at George Washington University. "He is doing pretty good," Howard said of Cantrell, a high draft pick by the Royals out of GWU last year.

Gaithersburg resident Mike Toomey, a special assistant to the general manager of the Kansas City Royals, is a long-time scout in the mid-Atlantic region.

"I have spent a lot of time with Anthony over the years," Toomey wrote in an e-mail. "He is a great kid and has come a long way. I always liked the way he swung the bat. He is a good student of the game ... good work ethic, always a smile on his face and a pleasure to be around."

Howard, 20, a left-handed hitter and thrower, hit .448 as a senior at Quince Orchard and led his team to the Class 4A state title game.

He began his pro career in 2009 with the Surprise Royals in the Arizona League and hit .191 with one homer with 11 steals in 13 tries in 94 at bats.

Last year he played for Idaho Falls and hit .105 in 19 at bats and also saw action with Burlington, where he hit .220 with three homers and 12 RBIs with four steals in 43 games and 141 at bats.