Tanner Houck was amazing last year for the Boston Red Sox, recording 124 strikeouts with a 134 ERA+, and the lowest HR/9 rate in the AL with 0.6. He was always a strikeout pitcher, recording a career K/9 of 8.7 and having a low HR/9 rate on top of that (0.7). The latter stat matches names like Clayton Kershaw and Jacob deGrom, who also have a 0.7 or 0.8 career HR/9. Granted, these players have played in more career games.
However, this season has been anything but...and not in a good way. Houck is one of those pitchers who will eat up a lot of pitches rather than go deep into games. He's still struggling to do that, but more often than not, he can't get past the fifth inning at all. But since May 14th, he was placed on the 15-day IL with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow. Before this point, he posted an 8.04 ERA in his 9 starts.
Tanner Houck's 2025 Season Leaves Red Sox With Questions
The first question is more of a hindsight question: Was he playing hurt and trying to push himself? Many players will do so, wanting to play the game they love. Most of the time, athletes will push themselves to compete, believing the injury isn't as bad as it truly is. So it's a possibility that Houck was trying to tough it out, and there is evidence due to his sudden regression. However, during his rehab, he's given up 5 ER in 2.2 innings, so there could be a bigger issue.
The next question is: Will he be a starter or out of the bullpen? Houck started during his rehab, but nothing has changed, and he is still giving up runs and having shorter stints. Now, the AAA WooSox are moving him to the bullpen, hoping to help him get back to what he was and boost his confidence.
Now here's the big thing: Tanner Houck has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the game, but has never gotten to that level. It's been five seasons, and he has yet to be that ace pitcher except for last year. Since then, he's failed to stay consistent and is seemingly regressing. Tanner Houck, truthfully, is a bullpen pitcher, perhaps even a closer.
In 2022, Cora tried Houck in the bullpen, to much better success than what he was when he was in the rotation. He went 29 games in that span, had a 3.13 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 8 saves. Speaking of ERA, that 3.13 in 2022 is only .01 points higher than his best full season (2024, with 3.12). Houck, as a late reliever/closer, has his name written all over it. With Aroldis Chapman most likely being traded at the deadline, Houck may just be in that spot or as an 8th inning guy at worst, come his inevitable return to the roster.