When the Cubs selected local prospect Ed Howard with the No. 16 overall pick they knew they got one of the best young shortstops in the country. Howard developed into a top talent at Mount Carmel High School playing on Haggerty Field, which sits between 64th and 65th streets on the South Side of Chicago.

On Wednesday night he became only the fourth player the Cubs have drafted in the first round who played high school baseball in Illinois. Dean Burk of Highland H.S. (1966), Brian Rosinski of Evanston Township H.S. (1975) and Don Schultze of Lake Park H.S. (1980) are the others.

Nearly six years ago, he was a key player on the Jackie Robinson West team that captivated Chicagoans and the country, on their way to the Little League World Series championship game. The 12-year-old experienced the thrill of that journey — and all that followed. 

Shortly after leaving Williamsport, Howard and his teammates were celebrated at Wrigley Field prior to a Cubs-Brewers game on September 1, 2014. During the visit Howard found himself in the dugout and taking photos at home plate and even standing with a pen and a ball at the shortstop position awaiting his chance to get an autograph. Former Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro eventually signed Howard’s ball and helped make the day even more memorable for the aspiring ballplayer. 

Now an 18-year-old — and soon-to-be member of the Cubs — Howard is a few steps closer to finding himself back on the same field he walked on as a child. When that day comes, he’ll be the one signing autographs for a new generation of fans at the ballpark.