Position: Outfielder
Class: Junior
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
High School: La Salle College

Expected to be Rock’s starting center fielder this spring ... Will inherit defensive role, as well as top-of-the-lineup batting spot, from All-PSAC-West performer Rich Michalik ... One of the fastest players on The Rock roster ... Makes good use of ability to put the ball in play and beat out infield groundballs ... Before The Rock: Attended Marist University and Frederick Community College for one year each ... Summer 2009: Batted .247 with six doubles, one triple, one home run and team-high 20 RBIs for Slippery Rock Sliders in Prospect League wood-bat competition ... 18 of 23 in stolen base attempts ... Spring 2009: Batted .406 with four doubles and five RBIs at Frederick Community College (Md.) ... Was successful in 16 of 17 stolen base attempts ... Played in 26 of 49 games ... Spring 2008: Played in 14 games, started two at Marist ... Batted .200 withone double, six runs scored and one RBI in 15 plate appearances ... High school: Two-sport athlete ... Lettered two seasons each in baseball and track and field ... Earned first-team All-Catholic League honor in each sport ... Helped lead baseball team to 2005 Catholic League championship and 2007 RBI World Series title ... Personal: Matthew Ryan Howard ... Son of Royce and Peggy Howard ... Member of Rock’s indoor track team during 2009-10 winter season ... Will play for Cooperstown in New York Collegiate Baseball League in summer of 2010 ... Communication journalism major.