Pitcher Tanner Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo) on Saturday.
Houck, 29, has been on the injured list with a flexor pronator strain in his right forearm since May 13. Such an injury is often a precursor to a tear that requires reconstructive surgery, but the Red Sox hoped Houck would recover with rest and rehabilitation.
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However, Houck’s rehab assignment was cut short on July 9 when he was still feeling soreness in his right arm. Last week, the Red Sox shut him down from throwing, making a 2025 return seem unlikely. At the time, Cora said surgery wouldn’t be necessary. But orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister recommended a procedure after viewing his MRI results.
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Now, Houck will not only miss the remainder of the 2025 season but by undergoing surgery in August, he will likely be sidelined for the 2026 campaign as well. In nine starts before going on the IL, Houck registered an 8.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.
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Boston’s first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) in 2017 out of Missouri, Houck has compiled a 3.97 ERA and 24-32 record in 113 appearances (80 starts), averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He was named to the MLB All-Star team last season, finishing with a 3.12 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings.
Houck’s uncertain status made getting another starting pitcher a priority for the Red Sox at the MLB trade deadline. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acquired Dustin May (6-7, 4.85 ERA) from the Los Angeles Dodgers, in addition to reliever Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals.
However, critics asserted that the team didn’t add nearly enough when it’s four games out of first place in the AL East and has a tenuous hold on one of the league’s three wild-card playoff berths.
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The Red Sox rank 12th in MLB with a 4.01 ERA from their starters, with a Cy Young Award candidate in Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello also pitching well.
However, Walker Buehler has been disappointing, while Lucas Giolito has been inconsistent. Additionally, Hunter Dobbins suffered a season-ending right ACL tear before the All-Star break and Patrick Sandoval has not fully recovered from left elbow surgery and is doubtful to pitch in 2025 after signing as a free agent.
“Tough year for him, tough year for us,” Cora said, via MLB.com. “But he’ll kill the rehab, he’ll do his job, and when he comes back, he’s going to be OK.”
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