Playing career

Howell was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 1982 MLB Draft out of Tuskegee University. He made his Major League debut for the Dodgers on June 25, 1984 against the San Diego Padres, working a scoreless ninth inning. His first start was on July 3, 1984 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing three earned runs in 5.2 innings to take the loss. His first career win came in an extra innings game against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 6, 1984. He was 5-5 with a 3.33 ERA for the Dodgers that season, including 6 saves (the first of which occurred on August 3 against the Cincinnati Reds).

Howell remained with the Dodgers through the 1988 season, acquiring an 18-29 record and 4.04 ERA in 194 games, with 4 starts and 31 saves.

He was traded by the Dodgers (along with Juan Bell and Brian Holton) to the Baltimore Orioles on December 4, 1988. The Orioles then traded him four days later (with Gordon Dillard) to the Philadelphia Phillies for Phil Bradley. He pitched in 33 games with the Phillies in 1989, 32 of which were starts and was 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA and then made 18 starts in 1990 with an 8-7 record and 4.64 ERA. Injury issues caused him to miss the rest of the 1990 season and most of 1991 and 1992, appearing in only 6 games in AAA in 1991 and none at all in 1992.

Howell attempted a comeback with the Texas Rangers in 1993, but after 6 appearances (4 starts) for the Gulf Coast Rangers he was released. He then played in 1994 for the unaffiliated San Bernardino Spirit before retiring.

Coaching career

He returned to the Dodgers in 2003 as the pitching coach for the Vero Beach Dodgers in Class-A and was subsequently promoted to pitching coach for the AA Jacksonville Suns in 2005 and AAA Las Vegas 51s from 2006-2007.

In 2008, Howell joined the Dodgers Major League coaching staff as the bullpen coach, a position he held through 2012 under Managers Joe Torre and Don Mattingly. On November 13, 2012, he became the Assistant Pitching Coach for the Dodgers and remained in that position through the 2015 season.

Personal life

Howell was rushed to the hospital on February 6, 2015, when it was found he was suffering from kidney failure. It was later discovered he was suffering from pancreatic necrosis, an anaerobic infection, as well as other health complications. Howell has undergone multiple surgeries and has reported he is "Doing much better." It is unknown whether Howell will announce his retirement or continue his commitment to the MLB.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]