LAKEWOOD, NJ - Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will rehab with the BlueClaws on Friday at FirstEnergy Park and the team will retire his #29 in a pre-game ceremony presented by Smart Carpet and Flooring.

Howard, who played with Lakewood in 2002, will be the first former BlueClaws player to have his number retired.

The jersey retirement was originally scheduled for Thursday, September 2nd, but was postponed because the Phillies will now make up a previously rained out game in Colorado on that date.

Howard has been on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle since August 2nd.

Including Howard, 14 different Phillies have rehabbed with the BlueClaws, including both Joe Blanton and Carlos Ruiz earlier this year. The BlueClaws are 15-9 all time when Phillies players rehab in Lakewood.

Howard, the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year and 2006 NL MVP, played with the BlueClaws in 2002, hitting .280 with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs.

He rehabbed in Lakewood on May 23rd and 24th in 2007, hitting a home run and driving in four runs in front of a combined 16,201 fans.

He is tied with two others (Travis Mattair and Randy Ruiz) for the franchise RBI record and trails Juan Richardson by two for the franchise home run record.

Tickets can be ordered on the phone at 732-901-7000 or online at BlueClaws.com.

The night also features post-game fireworks, courtesy of Toyota/Scion World of Lakewood.

The BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in attendance in each year of existence and are in their tenth year of providing family fun and affordable entertainment at the Jersey Shore.

They will return to the playoffs in September looking to defend their South Atlantic League Championship from 2009.

- BlueClaws -