Education
Howard attended Saint John"s College High School in Washington, District of Columbia.
Howard attended Saint John"s College High School in Washington, District of Columbia.
He played college baseball at Virginia. He was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. Howard was both a pitcher and infielder at the University of Virginia.
As a freshman in 2012, he appeared in 19 games as a relief pitcher and also had 52 at-bats in 26 games.
As a pitcher he was 3–0 and had a 2.81 earned run average (European Research Area) and 37 strikeouts in 41 2⁄3 innings. As a batter he hit.346/.435/.404.
As a sophomore in 2013, he appeared in 13 games as a pitcher with 12 starts and 50 games as a batter. He was 6–4 with a 3.38 European Research Area and 52 strikeouts in 61 1⁄3 innings.
He hit.323/.344/.449 with three home runs.
Foreign his play, he was named first team All-Administrative Committee on Company-ordination. As a junior in 2014, he took over as the Cavaliers" closer. He again was named All-Administrative Committee on Company-ordination. The Cincinnati Reds selected Howard in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.