Former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard sells Florida mansion, panic room included, for $16.5 million

In his nearly 14 years with the Phillies, Ryan Howard scooped up more than $190 million playing baseball. And, as it turns out, that kind of paycheck can be transfered to some pretty sweet real estate.

For a cosmic $16.5 million, the former Philadelphia first baseman has sold his three-story, 19,000-foot, gulf-front Florida mansion, setting the record for the priciest residential real-estate sale in Tampa Bay-area history.

The home, which resembles a castle, and its surrounding private grounds boast the mega-mansion standard fare: 200 feet on the Gulf of Mexico, a lazy river, waterfall, bar and grotto, bowling alley, home theater, “Napa-inspired” wine room, eight-car garage, eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, four powder rooms, and a panic room.

Howard bought the property three years ago for $3.5 million, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The buyer: Florida real estate investor and self-made millionaire Ben Mallah, who told the news organization he bought the mansion as a 15-year anniversary present for his wife.

A three-time all-star and National League MVP, Howard played 13 seasons with the Phillies, and was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2005 and Most Valuable Player in 2006. In 2008, he led the major leagues in RBIs and home runs, helping lead the Phillies to their first World Series win since 1980.

After being granted free agency by the Phillies in 2016 and playing a season in the minors, Howard officially retired from baseball in September, penning an essay in the Players Tribune titled “Thank you, Philly.”

Howard is a partner at SeventySix Capital, a Philadelphia venture capital firm, and has co-authored several children’s books with his wife, Krystle.

Click through the gallery below for a closer look at Howard’s former mega-mansion.