Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck‘s attempt to come back this season is over, as manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery.
An All-Star last season, Houck went on the injured list in mid-May with a right flexor strain after going 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA in nine starts. He had been moved to the 60-day IL on Thursday.
“Tanner’s going to have Tommy John surgery,” Cora said before the Red Sox faced the Houston Astros at Fenway Park. “He went to see Dr. [Keith] Meister there in Texas, and that was the recommendation. We don’t have a date yet, but he’s going to have it.”
Houck, 29, had a strong 2024 season, finishing seventh in the American League with a 3.12 ERA in 30 starts, but was able to make only five rehab appearances after going on the injured list.
“Tough year for him, tough year for us,” Cora said of the season-ending news. “But he’ll kill the rehab, he’ll do his job, and when he comes back, he’s going to be OK.”
Houck earned his first All-Star appearance by going 8-6 with a 2.54 ERA in the first half. He struggled after the break, going 1-4 with a 4.23 ERA.
He worked an inning at the All-Star Game in Texas last year, giving up three hits, including a homer to Shohei Ohtani.
“A year ago, I was at the All-Star Game, and now this year, going under the knife again, unfortunately. It’s just a matter of time of putting the pieces back together, coming back stronger and just getting back out there,” Houck said Sunday morning in Boston’s clubhouse. “I know the minimum [to return] is probably around the 12-month mark, 12- to 14-month mark. With that being said, if everything goes right, 12 months from now, I plan on being back out there, running out to the mound at Fenway.”
Houck is the third Boston starting pitcher to suffer a season-ending injury. Hunter Dobbins tore the ACL in his right knee covering first base last month, and Kutter Crawford underwent right wrist surgery.
The Red Sox hope the pickup of right-hander Dustin May at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Dodgers will bolster the staff. He is expected to make his first start for the Red Sox on Wednesday at Fenway.
“It was definitely a ride of emotions, up and down,” said May, sitting in the dugout Saturday, of being dealt to Boston. “Sad leaving because I’ve been there my whole career, but very, very excited to be joining this organization.”
May knew his days as a starter with the Dodgers were likely coming to an end this season with a few starters expected to come off the injured list.
“I was kind of pushed out,” he said. “We’ve got quite a few guys there in that organization. I couldn’t be more excited and thrilled to be here and be a part of it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
