IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Ryan Howard Rehab Rescheduled for Game Two of Today's Doubleheader

July 1, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


(Allentown, Pa.) - The Phillies have announced that Ryan Howard's rehab has been rescheduled for Game Two of today's doubleheader against the Pawtucket Red Sox at 6:35 p.m. The 2006 National League MVP is recovering from a left Achilles injury sustained in the final at-bat of last year's NLDS against St. Louis. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is the exclusive sponsor of all Major League rehabilitation appearances at Coca-Cola Park.

Field Level and General Admission tickets are still available for Game Two of a day-night doubleheader at 6:35 p.m. Tickets for all upcoming IronPigs games can be purchased in-person at Coca-Cola Park, by calling (610) 841-PIGS or online at ironpigsbaseball.com. Prices for single-game start as low as $7 for General Admission, granting fans access to the Capital BlueCross Lawn seating area, the brand-new bar at the Red Robin Tiki Terrace & Oasis along with standing room only areas. Field Level reserved seats are just $10. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as Coca-Cola Park was Minor League Baseball's most visited venue in 2011 with seating capacity reached or surpassed during 60 of the club's 68 home dates.

Howard, 32, underwent surgery to repair his Achilles last October and recently began a rehab with Class-A Lakewood. In three rehab games with the BlueClaws, the slugger went 5-for-8 (.625) with 4 RBIs and 3 walks.

One of the game's preeminent sluggers, Howard's 262 home runs and 859 RBIs since 2005 ranked first among all Major Leaguers entering this season. Last season, Howard hit 33 home runs and collected 116 RBIs extending his club record to six straight seasons of hitting 30-plus home runs while driving in at least 100 runs.

In 2005, the St.Louis, Mo., native became just the 4th Phillies player ever to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award after hitting .288 with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs in just 88 games. Howard paced the NL rookie class in home runs and slugging percentage (.567) and finished second in RBIs, extra-base hits (41) and on-base percentage (.356). His 22 home runs were the most by a Phillies rookie since Willie Montanez blasted 30 in 1971.

Howard joined elite company in 2006 when he followed up his Rookie of the Year award season by capturing NL MVP honors in his first full Big League season, joining Cal Ripken Jr. as the only other player to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons. The slugger mashed a Phillies single-season record 58 home runs while collecting a Major League best 149 RBIs.

In 2007, Howard helped guide the Phillies to the post-season for the first time since 1993 as he finished 5th in the NL in MVP voting and led the NL in home runs (26) and RBI (69) after the All-Star break.

During Philadelphia's magical 2008 campaign that ultimately finished with just the second World Series title in franchise history, Howard finished 2nd in NL MVP voting as he led the Major Leagues in home runs (48) and RBIs (146). His five RBIs in Game 4 of the World Series tied a Phillies record for most runs drive in during a World Series game.

Despite falling short as repeat World Champions in 2009, Howard was named the NLCS MVP hitting .333 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs against Los Angeles. During the regular season, Howard had yet another ultra-productive season at the plate becoming just the 4th player in Major League history to have at least 40 home runs and 130 RBIs in four consecutive seasons.

On September 8, 2010, Howard became the fastest player in history to reach the 250 home run plateau (855 games).

Howard was originally drafted by the Phillies in the 5th round of the 2001 draft out of Southwest Missouri State University and swiftly propelled through the Minor League ranks. After being named the Paul Owens Award winner as the best hitter in the Phillies system for the second consecutive season in 2004, he would make his Major League debut on September 1 of that season.

Howard's only other appearance at Coca-Cola Park was during an exhibition game between the Phillies and IronPigs on March 30, 2008. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in a Phillies 5-3 victory.

Sunday's Game One features an appearance by former Phillies standout pitcher Tommy Greene. Greene, who tossed the eighth no-hitter in club history in 1991, went 16-4 with a 3.42 ERA in 1993 to help guide the Phillies to the World Series for the first time in a decade.

Sunday's nightcap and series finale between the IronPigs and Paw Sox is highlighted by the first of six consecutive nights of fireworks at Coca-Cola Park in celebration of the Fourth of July. Also, Sunday's game features Dueling Piano Performances pre-game, in-game and post-game as well as a post-game Kids Run the Bases presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network comprises a main operation based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a majority ownership of Good Shepherd Penn Partners based in Philadelphia. More than 62,000 people come to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network each year for specialized programs in orthopedics, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, amputation and more. Good Shepherd's Lehigh Valley operation provides rehabilitation services in 8 eastern Pennsylvania counties and operates 21 outpatient sites, 4 inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, 2 long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities and an independent living facility. For more information, visit www.HomeRunRehab.com.

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