Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher and Ken Howell passed away Friday at the age of 57. He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 1982 MLB Draft.
Howell spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dodgers, going 18-29 with 31 saves and a 3.95 ERA. He was included in a trade to the Baltimore Orioles that sent Eddie Murray to the Dodgers, then Howell was moved four days later to the Philadelphia Phillies.
That’s where his playing career concluded, with two years spent pitching as a starter. Howell then went on to spend 14 years working as a coach in the Dodgers organization.
Among the players he impacted was Kenley Jansen, who remembered his former coach and offered condolences on Twitter:
He was going through a lot w/his health & still was the same man of joy. This is a big loss for me, for @Dodgers & for baseball. My thoughts are with his family. I share my condolences with them and all those Kenny Howell affected positively. I know there are many of us. (2/2)
— Kenley Jansen (@kenleyjansen74) November 10, 2018
Howell’s post-playing career with the Dodgers began in 2002 as pitching coach for Single-A Vero Beach. He was promoted to bullpen coach in 2008 and was part of the Dodgers Major League staff for the next eight years.
Howell remained bullpen coach until 2013, then was assistant pitching coach to Rick Honeycutt from 2014-15. Howell dealt with complications from diabetes throughout his coaching career.
