Tanner Houck on contributing with the Red Sox in 2024: ‘I want to start’
Red Sox spring training is set to get underway this week with pitchers and catchers first workout set to begin on Wednesday in Fort Myers, Fla.
One major storyline heading into camp is the club’s pitching situation. Boston will have numerous arms competing for a chance to crack the starting rotation, including right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and new pitching coach Andrew Bailey are new to their roles in Boston and have no emotional ties to Houck or other arms on the roster. Breslow is open to Houck getting an opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation, will noting nothing is guaranteed.
Which means Houck needs to impress this spring and make the decision hard on the front office, Bailey and manager Alex Cora on where he’ll pitch next season.
Houck made 21 starts for the Red Sox last season, posting a 6-10 record with a 5.01 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 106 frames. The 27-year-old righty missed nearly two months due to suffering a facial fracture from a line drive that required surgery back in June.
Following his stint on the injured list, Houck pitched better over his last eight starts, posting a 3-4 record with a 4.93 ERA.
The Missouri native wants to start for the Red Sox this season but also understands that he could be asked to contribute out of the bullpen.
“Everybody wants to start. I want to start,” Houck said to the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham who is down in Fort Myers. “Go out there and post, and things will take care of themselves.”
Houck has worked on his slider and sinker this offseason, he’s also worked out at Cressey Sports Performance. Last season, he used a five-pitch mix, a slider, sinker, split finger, cutter and a four-seamer. He predominately used a slider-sinker combo, throwing the two pitches a combined 1,183 times.
Opposing batters hit his sinker hard, batting .306 off the righty and .310 off his split-finger fastball. His slider held opponents to a .178 batting average and a 38.7% whiff percentage.
One role that Houck could flourish in could be the closer role. All-Star closer Kenley Jansen is still on the roster while the front office has actively tried to trade him this offseason. Houck has the make up and the stuff to be effective in the ninth inning role.
There’s nothing new on the Jansen rumors other than the Red Sox are still looking for a trade partner. The Dodgers and Phillies have reportedly shown interest in acquiring the veteran closer.
If the Red Sox do trade Jansen and Houck gets a chance to own the ninth inning, he’s had experience in the role. During the 2022 season, Houck converted eight saves, primarily pitching out of the bullpen. He has nine career saves over the course of 74 big league games.
Houck should get every chance to start this spring but if Boston pulls the trigger and actually trades Jansen, the right-hander should be one of the first pitchers to get a chance to be the ninth inning option in 2024.
Tanner, the starter is no the problem.Any starter could go 6 1/3 inning gs of no hit 1 walk pitching. Then you give up a cheap hit, the next batter, you have K'd twice and leads the league in GDIP. Yo gave up a hit, do Cora pull you. The batter walks, now 2 on 1 out. Top of the order, double, run. 2nd and 3rd. Next batter, single, 2 more runs. New pitcher, dinner, now your team is losing. How many times have we seen this type of manager mistakes?