Ryan Howard to unite with ESPN as an analyst

Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is joining ESPN this season as an analyst on various studio shows. "I'll be kind-of that utility player wherever they need me," Howard said on Philly.com. "I'm just so excited for the opportunity."

He is expected to appear on Baseball Tonight, Get Up! and SportsCenter, among other shows, according to the New York Post. Howard spent 13 seasons in the majors, all with the Phillies, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2006, a year after being the league's Rookie of the Year. The three-time All-Star helped Philadelphia win the 2008 World Series.

Howard, who last played in the majors in 2016, played in Triple-A for the Braves and Rockies in 2017 before official retiring in September 2018. The lefty slugger hit .258 with 382 home runs and 1,194 RBIs in 1,572 games.

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