Sunday’s announcement comes after Howard’s sparkling performance in the European Championship.
Howard, who started in all of Italy’s 11 games, hit .545 and produced 18 hits, six home runs, two doubles, a triple, 40 total bases and 23 RBIs in the event.
She led the tournament in hits, total bases and RBIs, while tied for the lead in home runs, third in runs with 14 and was in the top five in slugging percentage and batting average.
She posted a 1.212 slugging percentage and .579 on-base percentage, and produced six multiple-hit games and six multiple-RBI games.
In the championship game Saturday against the Netherlands, Howard went 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run in the bottom of the first and a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth that made it 6-3. The Azzurre won the championship, 9-5.