The New York Mets are bringing in another former Cleveland Indian, but this time in their baseball operations. Kevin Howard is joining the Mets as their new farm director after spending six seasons in the Indians organization.
Mets are hiring Kevin Howard as farm director. He was Indians hitting coordinator.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 21, 2021
Howard is the definition of an employee who worked their way up the ladder. He was part of a championship team at the University of Miami before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. Howard received a grand tour of the minor leagues in the following 12 years. He played for 14 different affiliated teams then finished off his playing career with two independent league teams. Howard never made it to the big leagues over his long career.
Coaching In The Minors
After retiring, he finished his business management degree at Miami and coached Barry University’s baseball team. Howard’s professional baseball coaching career began in 2015 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Indians Single-A) as their hitting coach. Detroit Tigers, Willi Castro, and Baltimore Orioles Anthony Santander were two of his notable pupils.
In 2017, Howard moved on to the same role for the Lake County Captains (Advanced-A) and in 2018 for the Akron RubberDucks (Double-A). Howard once again worked with Castro and Indians prospect Bobby Bradley. Before 2019, the organization promoted Howard to hitting coordinator, where he remained through 2020.
Howard is only 39-years old, and his minor league experience will go a long way towards rebuilding the Mets farm system. He has spent half his life in the minors and knows what it takes to create and maintain a successful farm system.