Chicago Cubs: Drafting Ed Howard makes for a great story

In a time where baseball fans could use some feel-good stories, they are getting one in the Chicago Cubs selection of Ed Howard.

While the 2020 MLB season and the Chicago Cubs are still in limbo, the 2020 MLB Draft has given fans something positive to observe. Wednesday kicked off the first round of this year’s draft, and the Cubs had a chance to pick in the top-20. Their pick of SS Ed Howard from Mount Carmel High School created a lot of positive buzz among Cubs fandom.

Howard was one of the top-rated High School prospects in this year’s draft and one of the best available players at No.16. A lot of experts praised the Cubs for the pick, including Jeff Passan, who reported a scout said it was the best pick so far, and it was made pretty clear by team VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz that Howard was the kid they were high on.

The former Jackie Robinson West teammate and White Sox ACE alum have a lot of potential on the field, but let’s not forget what a great story this is. As cliche as some of the “great story” stuff can sometimes seem, this is a time where we as fans need a good story like this. Looking at how the pick of Ed Howard unfolded will surely bring a smile to your face.

Fans love the local kid story. It is something that does not happen incredibly often, but when it does, it’s remembered well. Howard (18) just graduated from Mount Carmel High School and lives in Lynwood, Illinois. Yes, he grew up rooting for the crosstown White Sox, but he and his friends and family are thrilled to see him wearing North Side blue now. Having the local kid helps give one a sense of homeland pride in these situations. Playing in Chicago will feel like home to him, and keep in mind he did play at Wrigley Field in 2019 Under Armour All-American game.

https://twitter.com/ehowardIV/status/1270925163144626176

The best part of this story? The reaction. Josh Frydman on Twitter posted the video of Howard with his family and friends all together as the announcement was made that the Cubs had selected him. Everyone went nuts as he put on the Cubs cap for the first time. To have fans get to experience what a special moment that was for Howard and his loved ones really helps get people excited. Seeing a young kid embark on a new journey with all the love and support is content we like to see. No other real word to describe it than “Awesome!”

One other cool aspect of Howard being drafted was his connection with the White Sox. As a White Sox ACE alum, members of the organization and people who cover them knew him well. In a very classy move by the White Sox Twitter, they congratulated Howard being drafted by the Cubs. It might not seem like that big of a deal, but it is nice to see the support for him from the crosstown team even though they did not draft him. Sincere respect for the player and game first.

Fans know that it is going to take Ed Howard a few years to be MLB ready, and who knows what the team will look like then, but it will hopefully be a fun journey to watch. The hype around him is giving something positive to the fans that have not felt a lot of good things so far in 2020. Seeing the Cubs Twitter post pictures of Howard at Wrigley and with Anthony Rizzo ads to this feel-good story. Welcome to the Cubs, Ed.