Chicago native Ed Howard was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft, chosen three picks ahead of Pete Crow-Armstrong, who the Cubs were considering at the time — and who, of course, now is an All-Star center fielder for the Cubs.

Howard’s pro career has been marred by injuries and poor performance and he’s barely played this year — just 13 games split between High-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville.

Howard turns 24 in January and the Cubs, apparently, would like to see if there’s still anything there by sending him to the Arizona Fall League.

The other seven Cubs prospects going to the AFL all played at either South Bend or Low-A Myrtle Beach this year, so they’re pretty far from the major leagues. Five of the other seven are pitchers.

Thomas Mangus is a 22-ye

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