Tanner Houck is currently making his 2024 season look easy. Twelve starts in, the right-hander is pitching like one of the best in baseball. But you couldn’t always say that about Houck.
He’s had a bumpy road towards his pure domination this season. Mishaps and inconsistent playing time had plagued the 27-year-old’s career until the current campaign. But that isn’t the case right now.
It’s time to have a serious discussion: Tanner Houck is an AL Cy Young contender. Tanner Houck’s Road To 2024 The Red Sox selected Tanner Houck with the 24th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. Out of the University of Missouri, expectations were high for the St.
Louis native. Houck stayed in the minors through 2019, posting decent numbers. During the shortened 2020 season, Boston selected his contract to make his MLB debut.
In three starts, Houck shined, allowing just one earned run over 17 innings and claiming three wins. Houck’s next two seasons featured inconsistent roles. In 2021, the righty started in 13 of his 18 appearances.
Houck ended with a 3.52 ERA over 69 innings but won just one game. In 2022, he mostly came out of the bullpen, starting just four of his 32 times on the mound.
Houck pitched to a 3.15 ERA in 60 innings, proving strength from the pen. After two decent campaigns, he entered 2023 looking for a solidified role.
Houck found a consistent position on the field as a starter last season. But what wasn’t consistent were his performances. Houck threw to a disappointing .
