In Midst of Dreadful Season, News Gets Worse for Red Sox' Tanner Houck

To say this has been a disastrous season for Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck would be an understatement. After posting an 8.04 ERA across nine dreadful starts, Houck went down back on May 12th with what was then diagnosed as a flexor pronator strain of his right elbow.

Now, after nearly three months of struggling to return, including a five-start rehab back in June/early July, Houck has been designated to undergo Tommy John surgery, per manager Alex Cora.

Tanner Houck will be undergoing Tommy John surgery, per @SmittyOnMLB.

Just an absolutely brutal year that will likely cost him most of, if not all of 2026 as well. pic.twitter.com/k6FBYDHWbN
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 2, 2025

Houck will likely not return to the mound for the BoSox until the 2026 season.

The 29-year-old had a breakthrough first half in 2024, and was named to the American League All-Star team for his first 16 starts which comprised of a 2.18 ERA.

But things went south in the second half last season, as he pitched to a 4.23 ERA, and saw his K/BB ratio plummet from 112:26 to just 42:22.

It continued to get worse this season, perhaps due to his arm troubles, that included a pair of 11-earned run blow-ups, leading to that 8.04 ERA.

Overall, since June 29th of last season, Houck is 2-8 with a 5.75 ERA.