As rough spring training comes to close, Tanner Houck insists there’s no correlation with regular season
Houck had an underwhelming 2023 season after struggling in spring training, but had a career year in 2024 following a strong spring.
Tanner Houck is entering the 2025 regular season on a good note.
The Red Sox right right-handed pitcher was shellacked again in his final performance of spring training. Houck gave up 10 earned runs on 12 hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings against the Rays on Saturday. He finished the spring with an 11.20 ERA, 2.49 WHIP, and seven strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings pitched.
This isn’t the first time that Houck has struggled during the exhibition season. In fact, he’s mostly put up lackluster numbers in spring training since 2020, including a 9.74 ERA in 2023.
However, Houck’s spring training numbers improved in 2024 (2.40 ERA), which wound up being a sign of what was to come as he had a career year on the mound. While Houck’s 2023 spring training also previewed his performance that regular season (5.01 ERA), he insisted that there isn’t a correlation between his spring training and regular season stats.
“I’ve never even really thought about it,” Houck told reporters when asked about a possible correlation, via The Boston Globe‘s Julian McWilliams. “For me, it’s about coming and getting the work in and getting the body right. I know that you spend all offseason, I’ll use the word ‘experimenting’ on new stuff, trying out new things, new grips. And so this is our time to kind of put it all together. I always compare it to a puzzle, trying to find the right pieces at the right time. I don’t really think about the results.”
Houck entered camp as a possibility to be the Red Sox’ Opening Day starting pitcher. The 28-year-old was one of the best starters in the American League last season, going 9-10 with a 3.10 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 154 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings over 30 starts.
Even though Garrett Crochet will get the honor of being the pitcher who takes the mound when the season opens on Thursday, Houck will still play a big role in Boston’s rotation. He’s currently its No. 2 starting pitcher, sitting between Crochet and Walker Buehler as the backend of the rotation has been hit with injuries during spring training.
With the Red Sox expecting a lot out of Houck this season, he isn’t too concerned about what’s happened this spring. He shared that Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey told him his stuff was fine, they just weren’t getting good results.
“Obviously, the results suck. I’ll be the first one to say it,” Houck said. “All in all, good to get work in and get the pitch count bumped up. I feel healthy and strong and that’s all you can take from it.
“I feel great. Physically, Bailey and I were talking in the dugout and everything’s up a little bit. Velo, movement. It just comes down to executing a little bit finer. All in all, ready for the start of the season.”
Luckily for Houck, these stats will fall into the abyss once Thursday arrives. But when he takes the mound to go up against the Rangers on Friday, the pressure will officially turn on as he looks to quell any concerns from this spring.
Houck believes that playing in games with stakes will help improve his numbers.
“I definitely think that is a big part of it, getting the lights on you,” Houck said. “It’s just an uptick in everything.”
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