MESA, Ariz. – As two minor-league games played out late Tuesday morning, shortstop prospect Ed Howard cycled through batting practice on a separate field.
Howard, who underwent season-ending hip surgery last May, has been hitting and playing defense.
“Just a couple small hurdles to get over from a base-running standpoint,” Cubs vice president of player development Jared Banner said in a conversation with the Sun-Times.
Howard is one of several prospects who are recovering from injuries of various severity, including outfielder Alexander Canario, two-way player Nazier Mule and infielder James Triantos.
The Cubs drafted Howard, a Mount Carmel High School graduate, No.