Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Rusty in first rehab outing
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) allowed one run on two walks over two-thirds of an inning for Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Houck began a rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs and was understandably rusty in his first game action since July 9, 2025. Only eight of his 20 offerings landed in the zone. The right-hander is next scheduled to pitch Friday and elevate his pitch count to the 40-45 range.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Rehab assignment coming soon
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Houck has been throwing at the Red Sox's training facility in Florida, and after throwing a two-inning simulated game Friday without issue, he looks ready to move on to the next step in his long recovery from the hybrid UCL reconstruction procedure he underwent last August. The Red Sox plans to use the right-hander in a relief role once he makes it back from the 60-day injured list.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Throwing sim game Friday
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Houck (elbow) will throw a simulated game Friday, MLB.com reports.
This will be the second sim game for Houck, who threw one earlier this week at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers. Pending the outcome of Friday's session, Houck could begin a rehab assignment next week, and a return to the big-league bullpen late in the regular season is still on the table.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Faces hitters Tuesday
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Houck (elbow) tossed a live bullpen session to batters Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
It's a significant step in the right direction for Houck, as Tuesday was the first time he faced hitters since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in August 2025. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters that Houck is "in the picture" for a major-league role toward the tail end of the regular season, if the right-hander is cleared to return from the 60-day IL.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Throwing bullpens
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Houck (elbow) has started throwing two bullpen sessions per week, MLB.com reports.
Houck has begun ramping up and hopes to pitch before the end of the regular season. It's unlikely the Red Sox will use him as a starter, so any rehab assignment would resemble that of a relief pitcher. The right-hander has been sidelined since last August, when he underwent hybrid reconstruction surgery on his right UCL.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Mound work coming in June
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.
In addition to the longer throws in those sessions, Houck has alternated sessions with throws out to 60 feet in which he also incorporated changeups. The Red Sox are targeting late June for the right-hander to begin mound work, but it's not yet clear whether he's pitch for Boston at all in 2026. Houck underwent hybrid reconstruction of his right UCL with flexor tendon repair last August.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Begins throwing program
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) began a throwing program Monday with 25 throws from 45 feet, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
It's the first time he's thrown a baseball since he underwent a UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair six months ago. Houck will continue a deliberate rehab process over the next several months and hopes to make a late-season return, but it's likely the Red Sox will hold him back until 2027.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Begins throwing next week
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) will begin a throwing program next week, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck underwent a hybrid reconstruction of his UCL plus a flexor tendon repair in his right elbow last August. The right-hander hopes to contribute to the Red Sox in September, but the club won't really be counting on him again until 2027.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Eyeing return in late 2026
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) confirmed Sunday that he will undergo Tommy John surgery around mid-week and said that he's hopeful to resume pitching by the end of the 2026 season, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "I know the minimum [recovery time from surgery] is probably around the 12-month mark, 12 to the 14-month mark. With that being said, if everything goes right, 12 months from now, plan on being back out there, running out to the mound at Fenway," Houck said. "But you also got to do it the smart way, the correct way...But I'm gonna do everything in my power to get back out there at this time next year and be essentially a trade deadline piece, come back and help in 2026."
According to Smith, Houck noted that he and his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, haven't yet discussed whether a late-2026 return is realistic, so the right-hander's tune could change depending on how his surgery goes. Even if Houck meets his goal, he probably won't be available for the big club until September of next season in a best-case scenario, and would likely be working out of the bullpen. Before landing on the shelf May 14 with a right flexor pronator strain, Houck struggled over his nine starts with Boston, logging an 8.09 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43.2 innings. He was cleared to begin a rehab assignment June 18 but was shut down shortly before the All-Star break after a follow-up MRI revealed "significantly worse" damage to his elbow that ultimately prompted Houck's decision to get surgery.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Slated for Tommy John surgery
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Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck has been on the injured list since May with a right elbow strain, and after suffering a setback during his most recent rehab start July 9, he'll now elect to go under the knife to address the injury. The right-hander will close the book on 2025 with an 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through 43.2 innings, and because his procedure will happen late in the 2025 season, he likely won't be ready to return to a big-league mound until 2027.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Houck is eligible to be activated from the injured list at any time and appeared to be nearing a return. However, he was shut down indefinitely July 21 after suffering a setback, so he's currently without an official recovery timeline. The move makes room for Dustin May on the Red Sox's 40-man roster.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Suffers setback during rehab
Rotowire
Houck was returned from his minor-league rehab assignment Saturday due to a recurrence of a right pronator strain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Houck was first diagnosed with a right pronator strain in mid-May, and he subsequently landed on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander kicked off a minor-league rehab stint about a month later and pitched in five games, posting a 5.74 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB over 15.2 innings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. There had been optimism that Houck was close to being activated, but the setback means he'll likely be out for another significant chunk of time.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Back from assignment, still inactive
Rotowire
The Red Sox returned Houck (elbow) from his rehab assignment Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Although Houck's 30-day rehab window is now closed, the fact that Boston has yet to activate him indicates he isn't quite ready to return. The 29-year-old righty posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 15.2 innings during his five-start assignment, though he gave up only one run in his final two outings (9.1 IP). He also owns a hefty 8.04 ERA through 43.2 frames in the majors this year, so there's no guarantee he'll have a place in the Sox's rotation whenever he is activated.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Due back from IL this week
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Houck is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list this week with his 30-day rehab window coming to a close Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Houck's rehab stint got off to a rocky start, but he's performed better over his last two outings with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, allowing just one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 9.1 innings. Despite his recent success, the right-hander is not expected to be inserted into Boston's starting rotation, with Richard Fitts getting the first chance to fill the vacancy created by Hunter Dobbins' season-ending knee injury. Houck still has two minor-league options left and could stick around with Worcester while continuing on a starter's trajectory until a rotation spot with the big club opens up. Boston also hasn't ruled out bringing him back as a member of the big-league bullpen.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Role uncertain
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that he hasn't discussed with Houck (elbow) about what his role will look like once he returns from the 15-day injured list following the All-Star break, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox recalled Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, and Cora indicated that he would get the first chance at replacing the injured Hunter Dobbins (knee) in the rotation. Unless the Red Sox decide to commit to a six-man rotation or elect to move Walker Buehler to the bullpen, Houck doesn't look as though he'll have a starting role waiting for him once he's activated. The skipper's hesitance in clearing a spot in the rotation for Houck is justified, as the right-hander owns a hefty 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through nine starts. He had an up-and-down performance during his five rehab starts between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, submitting a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 15.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fifth rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck (elbow) will make another rehab start in the minors this week, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Houck turned in the best performance of his rehab assignment so far Friday at Double-A Portland, firing five shutout innings while striking out four batters. The upcoming All-Star break makes it hard to predict when the 29-year-old right-hander will rejoin the Red Sox, though he likely isn't too far away from activation.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Third rehab outing coming Sunday
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is scheduled to make his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Houck will work behind an opening pitcher Sunday, though the skipper was careful to note that the right-hander isn't being considered for a move to the bullpen and is expected to re-enter the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. The decision to use Houck behind an opener Sunday comes after he struggled in both of his first two rehab starts with Worcester, covering 2.2 innings between those outings while allowing five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Houck built up to 49 pitches in his most recent start Tuesday, so he'll likely need to complete an additional rehab appearance after Sunday before he's stretched out enough to slot back into the big-league rotation. When Houck is ready to return from the IL, the Red Sox could expand the rotation to six men, or Boston could keep a five-man setup in place by optioning rookie Richard Fitts to Triple-A or sending struggling right-hander Walker Buehler to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck threw a couple bullpen sessions this week and has been sidelined since throwing 69 pitches across 2.1 innings in a May 12 start against the Tigers. Prior to the injury, Houck (0-3) had been roughed up across nine starts, notching an 8.04 ERA and 32:17 K:BB while surrendering 10 home runs across 43.2 innings of work.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Clear of structural damage
Rotowire
Houck had an MRI on his right elbow come back clean Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old remains without a clear return timeline, but a clean MRI is encouraging news after he was placed on the injured list Thursday due to a right flexor pronator strain. Houck will be eligible to rejoin the active roster May 28, but it wouldn't be surprising if he requires a longer absence given the nature of the injury.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: TBD on next start
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that "as of now," Houck will make his next start Sunday against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
It sounds like Cora is leaving the door open for Houck to not stay in the rotation after Houck gave up 11 earned runs Monday for the second time this season. If the team goes in another direction, Sean Newcomb or Cooper Criswell could be candidates for a spot start, as Walker Buehler (shoulder) is aiming to return next week.
