The last time Tanner Houck took the mound in a game, he was tagged for 11 earned runs in just 2 ⅓ innings in a disastrous outing against the Tigers. He was then placed on the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain two days later. Wednesday, then, represented a step forward.
Houck, making his first rehab start for the WooSox at Polar Park, allowed a run and two hits while walking a batter in 1+ innings against Buffalo on Wednesday. He pitched into the second inning and threw 32 pitches (18 strikes). The line wasn’t eye-popping but the fact Houck was pain-free (he previously acknowledged he was dealing with arm issues since spring training) was significant.
“Good to be back,” Houck said. “Good to be out there competing. All in all, the wind-up was definitely really good today in terms of how I was feeling. Felt in sync. The stretch was a little stiff.
“(Not feeling any pain or stiffness), which is definitely a step in the right direction compared to before,” Houck said. “I felt like I was able to execute the slider with a good shape, good velocity.”
Pitching against three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, who was rehabbing for Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, Houck got two ground balls to start his outing, then allowed back-to-back singles to Nathan Lukes and Joey Loperfido before retiring Riley Tirotta to end the frame. In the second, Houck issued a leadoff walk, then was lifted. The run Houck was charged with scored when Isaac Coffey let the inherited runner come in.
Houck said his next rehab start will come Tuesday with the WooSox at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, then he could have a third outing the following Sunday (June 29). At that point, there’s a chance he could be ready to re-join Boston’s rotation.
When he does return, he could have a new pitch in his arsenal, too. The Red Sox are actively looking for tweaks after Houck pitched to an abysmal 8.04 ERA in nine starts (43 ⅔ innings).
“For the first one back, being able to get the two ups, and in terms of pitch shapes, I like where everything’s at now. It’s just continue to go there,” Houck said.
“I think first and foremost (the goal) is continue to feel good,” he added. “But ultimately just continue to to get the shapes right. Location is obviously very key. Working on, like, a little cutter as well. So there’s just a few tweaks. Especially my delivery, my delivery early on wasn’t very in sync. Ultimately, as long as I can kind of keep the movement (in my delivery) small and very connected, that’s kind of where I’m aiming for and just that feel back.”
