Ryan Howard hit his 200th career home run Thursday night off Chris Volstad and the Florida Marlins. It was Howard’s 23rd home run of the season and his 23rd career dinger against the Marlins and it put him only 4 home runs behind Dick Allen for 7th place on the Phillies’ all-time list. In doing so, Howard leap-frogged Ralph Kiner as the player to have reached 200 home runs in the fewest games played (658).

How many home runs Howard will hit in his career is anyone’s guess. Much is made of the fact that he didn’t debut in the Bigs until he was 24 and that he has the body type that is not known for its playing longevity. Assuming he plays another 10 seasons (when he’ll be 39) and he hits around 30 home runs per year, he should end his career above 500 HRs which would make him a member of the most elite power-hitting club in baseball history. Of course, hitting 300 home runs in one’s 30s is assuming a lot but Howard does play in a ballpark that is built for the long ball (though it’s said that exactly half of his 200 home runs so far have been hit on the road). And if his hips start turning a little more slowly in the years to come, there is always the American League.

What we do know about Howard is what he’s already done and in his 6 Major League seasons he’s put up some interesting numbers. Take a look at a few of them:

• If anything bodes well for Howard’s longevity, it’s the fact he’s played in 159, 144 and 162 games in each of the past 3 seasons and he’s appeared in every game but 1 so far this season (88 total). All signs indicate his big body isn’t injury prone and that he won’t be dragging any major, chronic injuries into his 30s.
• For his career, Howard strikes out 2.13 times as many times as he walks. When you consider how much he walks (over 100 BBs both of the past 2 seasons, good for 4th in the N.L. both seasons), it’s no surprise he’s 2nd, 3rd and 17th on the all-time single season strikeout list (Mark Reynolds holds the record with 204 Ks).
• The big man was 2nd in the National League in 2006 and 2007 in intentional walks and was 6th in that category last season. For their careers, only 15 active players have more intentional free passes than Howard. When you add that to the fact that he’s been 1st in home runs per plate appearance in each of the last 3 seasons, you’re looking at a guy who (despite the highly-publicized strikeouts) is an incredibly efficient and feared hitter.
• Since 2005 Howard has won a Rookie of the Year (’05), an MVP (’06), two Home Run titles (’06 and ’08) and was 2nd in MVP voting last year. Howard has ranked in the top 3 in RBI in each of the past 3 seasons and is 3rd in the N.L. currently.

If anything portends Howard’s inclusion in the 500 home run club, it’s the efficiency with which he’s accumulated his numbers. The biggest challenge for Howard is going to be father time but when you consider the short time in which he’s put together the numbers he has, he’s as good a candidate as anyone to get there.