Cubs, No. 1 pick Ed Howard agree to terms on bonus of $3.75 million

Some good news came Sunday for Cubs fans when shortstop Ed Howard, the team’s first-round selection in this month’s MLB Draft, agreed to terms on a bonus of just under $3.75 million — full slot value for the 16th pick. It became official Monday morning with a signing announced by the Cubs.

There won’t be official minor-league games for Howard to play in this season, but he’ll likely begin work in some form in Arizona as soon as that’s possible in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Howard starred at Mount Carmel, batting .421 with 11 doubles, four triples and three homers in 35 games as a junior in 2019, earning Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Before that, he played on the Jackie Robinson West team that won the U.S. title at the Little League World Series in 2014.

The 6-2, 185-pound Howard became the first Illinois high school position player to be selected in the first round since Jayson Werth in 1997. He should instantly become one of the top-ranked prospects in a Cubs system that is lagging behind much of baseball.

The news of Howard’s bonus agreement was first reported by The Bigs.