Healthy Tanner Houck Hopes to Be a Difference Maker for Red Sox in Playoffs
· Yahoo Sports
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Tanner Houck started his career with plenty of hype, acting as someone who can do anything if given the opportunity. Coming off an injury that kept him out of action throughout he 2026 season, he hopes the Red Sox could use him come playoff time.
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The 24th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Houck was picked up as a starting pitcher. A chameleon, he adapted to any situation, acting as a starter, reliever, and closer. In 2022, he appeared in 32 games and was as durable as one could be.
Houck has shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t found consistency. This year, he has been rehabbing after undergoing a special surgery of his ulnar collateral ligament. It’s a "hybrid reconstruction" with a flexor tendon repair.
That was last August. This year, the Red Sox, with high expectations, struggled at first. Now, they are playoff contenders, and Houck wouldn’t mind adding to the fun. That includes rejoining the team before the season ended.
"I had my mind set on one goal, going out there and just helping this team this year," Houck said via The Boston Globe. "I just truly believed that I could do it."
The recovery process was expected to be 12-14 months. However, Houck recently appeared in minor league rehab game and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and Saturday. His determination to compete comes at an interesting time.
As of September 14, the Red Sox are 8.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East. They own the second Wild Card spot with just a few weeks to go in the regular season. Catching the Yankees, on top of the Wild Card, would be ideal.
Houck is one of a few Red Sox members to experience playoff baseball at Fenway Park. If he’s cleared, it doesn’t matter the role given, Houck hopes he can just make a difference.
"Three innings out of the pen is a little bit more appealing than just being a one-inning limited-pitch-count guy," Houck said. "So if I can get built up for 40-50 pitches and help out in any way, then it’s a lot easier role. Any role that I can step in and go out there and help this team win, I’m in."