51s’ Howard stays patient, optimistic

Playing for his seventh organization in as many seasons and still awaiting his first call to the majors, it would be easy for 51s third baseman Kevin Howard to get discouraged.

But the 28-year-old has been having the time of his life with Las Vegas since getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays from the San Diego Padres earlier this year.

"You can always take whatever happens to you and turn it into a positive," Howard said Monday before helping the 51s to a 4-2 win over Sacramento at Cashman Field. "As long as you have a chance to play baseball every day, you should feel fortunate."

Howard, who went 1-for-3 on Monday to extend his season-high hitting streak to 12 games, has thrived for the 51s since getting traded May 16.

He's hitting .326 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 26 games for Las Vegas after batting .247 with no homers and six RBIs in 26 games this year for the Portland Beavers, San Diego's Triple-A affiliate.

"The main thing is playing every day. That's a key for any hitter," said Howard, who wasn't an everyday player for Portland. "The more you play, the more you learn about your swing and what you need to do to be successful."

Howard was named the Pacific Coast League hitter of the week Monday after batting .500 (12-for-24) with two homers, four doubles and nine RBIs in six games for the 51s.

Howard enjoyed a similar resurgence last season after getting released by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 8.

After batting .257 with three homers and 27 RBIs in 60 games for the 51s, Howard signed with the Seattle Mariners and hit .324 with eight homers and 18 RBIs in 20 games for Triple-A Tacoma.

"I was fortunate enough to be in the lineup every day there," said Howard, who had a two-homer game against Las Vegas last season and a three-homer game against Portland. "I figured some things out with my swing, and you can see what happens when you don't get down on yourself."

Having been sent down to Double-A San Antonio for a few games this year before getting dealt to Toronto, Howard was grateful for the chance to return to Triple-A, and the 51s have been more than happy to have him.

"He's just been a big addition to our club on both sides of the ball," Las Vegas manager Mike Basso said. "He's really solidified third base for us and done a very good job."

A former University of Miami standout, Howard was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round in 2002.

After bouncing around the minors for the last seven years, Howard finds himself on the cusp of the big leagues, but he barely can believe it.

"Even though it seems like I'm close, it still seems very far in my mind," he said. "Until it actually happens, I'm sure it will seem like that."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.