Tanner Houck

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #8 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 65. Splitter: 45. Control: 45.
  Track Record: When the Red Sox drafted Houck with the 24th overall pick out of Missouri in 2017, they believed he had the athleticism and aptitude to add to his sinker/slider and emerge as a starter. In 2020, Houck made good on that belief as he refined his delivery and pitch mix over two months at the alternate training site and made a dazzling big league debut with one earned run over 17 innings while dominating three playoff teams.
  
  Scouting Report: Houck quieted his crossfire delivery at the alternate site to establish better direction to home plate. He also raised his low three-quarters arm slot a tick, establishing a better release point for his 90-93 mph sinker, 92-94 four-seamer and low-80s slider. After struggling for much of his career to handle lefthanded hitters, Houck shelved his changeup in favor of a splitter, which he rarely used in the big leagues but shows potential as a viable third pitch. He demonstrated excellent poise in the majors and adapted well to whatever was working, alternately emphasizing his two- and four-seam fastballs while displaying a wipeout slider against which hitters were 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.
  
  The Future: Houck put himself in position to open 2021 in the big league rotation with his debut performance. The development of his splitter will likely determine his career path. .
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #11 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Houck's development has traveled a crooked line since being taken in the first round in 2017. He tried to overhaul his pitch mix in early 2018 with initially disastrous results at high Class A Salem but found considerable success down the stretch with a balanced repertoire. In 2019, he alternated dominant performances—often against righty-heavy lineups—with struggles as a starter in Double-A and did the same out of the bullpen at Triple-A. He went back to starting in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Houck's combination of a 92-97 mph two-seamer and four-seamer with a sweeping slider from a low three-quarters arm slot creates nightmares for righties, but he's struggled to show similar command against lefties, who have hit .283/.383/.363 against him. On days where he flashes a solid changeup and locates his slider to both righties and lefties, Houck looks like a potential starter, but his difficulty in repeating a crossfire delivery with a lot of moving parts has convinced many that his future is in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: Houck likely will open 2020 back at Triple-A, offering the Red Sox a spot-starting option or bullpen depth, with a potential future as a setup man. The Red Sox have resisted giving up on him as a starter, but his proximity to the big leagues suggests a decision about his role looms.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Red Sox were thrilled that a pitcher with Houck’s Southeastern Conference and Team USA pedigree remained on the board at No. 24 overall. Yet in his first spring training, Houck raised his arm slot and changed from a two-seam/slider mix to more of a four-seam/curveball combination that he struggled to command. He went back to a more familiar arm slot and mix in the second half of 2018, with strong results down the stretch.
  
  Scouting Report: Houck’s flexibility permits him to have excellent extension from a low three-quarters arm slot, though he has a lot of moving parts and sometimes struggles to hold his release point. Moving forward, he has the potential to employ both a sinking two-seamer with armside run and a four-seamer that stays true to his glove side to spread the strike zone for swings and misses at the top of it and grounders at the bottom. He also throws a potential wipeout slider. His changeup needs to make progress for him to stay in the rotation, even if he only lands it for occasional strikes.
  
  The Future: Houck is determined to prove he can start, though many feel his future is in the bullpen unless he improves effectiveness against lefthanded hitters. He has No. 4 starter potential if he starts.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #3 prospect in 2018
  After strong performances in his freshman and sophomore seasons as well as a solid showing for Team USA in 2016, Houck entered 2017 as a preseason All-American. Yet despite another solid year in the Southeastern Conference, his anticipated dominance as a junior didn't materialize, leaving a pitcher projected as a potential top-10 pick on the board for the Red Sox at No. 24, where the Red Sox jumped at a chance to take a pitcher who it saw as having potentially untapped upside. Houck features a low three-quarters arm slot and a cross-body delivery, with moving parts that create deception but also pose challenges for his mechanical consistency. While his velocity was down at the start of his junior year, he was once again sitting at 92-93 mph and topping out at 97 by the end of the year, with a nasty two-seamer that evoked comparisons with Jake Peavy and Kevin Brown. He also threw a slider that came on as a wipeout offering. The Red Sox believe that with his ability to spin the ball from a low arm slot, he has a chance to generate more swings and misses by using his slider off an elevated four-seamer. They also plan to introduce a cutter, changeup and two-seam fastball to the mix. Houck's fastball and slider offer a solid floor of a late-inning reliever, but if he can broaden his mix with the addition of a cutter and development of a changeup, he has mid-rotation potential. After a pro debut that saw Houck acclimate to a five-day routine and incorporate a four-seamer, He will open his first full pro season in 2018 at one of the Class A affiliates.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #22 prospect in 2017 draft
  Houck has been one of the best pitchers in the Southeastern Conference since he arrived in 2015. He was also a stalwart for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team for two summers. Early this season, Houck's stuff was a tick softer than it had been in the past. But as the weather warmed up, Houck started to return to form. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander's unconventional delivery has long led to debates among scouts. He has plenty of arm speed, but he throws from a low arm slot and throws across his body--his front foot lands pointing somewhere between home and third base. He then spins off toward first base in his finish. It's anything but direct to the plate, but that also helps make him deadly against righthanded hitters. They struggle to pick the ball up out of his hand and his 90-94 mph heater has outstanding sink. It's a plus pitch and some scouts give it a 70 grade thanks to its movement. His slider garners average grades, and he's started to develop his fringe-average changeup as he's thrown it a bit more. But scouts are still trying to figure out what Houck will be. Some see the delivery and his sinker-heavy approach and see a future one-and-a-half pitch reliever. Others believe he'll end up as a solid No. 3/4 starter who has enough of a changeup to keep lefties honest while his above-average control and sinkerball beats up righthanders.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 65. Splitter: 45. Control: 45.
  Track Record: When the Red Sox drafted Houck with the 24th overall pick out of Missouri in 2017, they believed he had the athleticism and aptitude to add to his sinker/slider and emerge as a starter. In 2020, Houck made good on that belief as he refined his delivery and pitch mix over two months at the alternate training site and made a dazzling big league debut with one earned run over 17 innings while dominating three playoff teams.
  
  Scouting Report: Houck quieted his crossfire delivery at the alternate site to establish better direction to home plate. He also raised his low three-quarters arm slot a tick, establishing a better release point for his 90-93 mph sinker, 92-94 four-seamer and low-80s slider. After struggling for much of his career to handle lefthanded hitters, Houck shelved his changeup in favor of a splitter, which he rarely used in the big leagues but shows potential as a viable third pitch. He demonstrated excellent poise in the majors and adapted well to whatever was working, alternately emphasizing his two- and four-seam fastballs while displaying a wipeout slider against which hitters were 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.
  
  The Future: Houck put himself in position to open 2021 in the big league rotation with his debut performance. The development of his splitter will likely determine his career path. .
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 65. Splitter: 45. Control: 45.
  Track Record: When the Red Sox drafted Houck with the 24th overall pick out of Missouri in 2017, they believed he had the athleticism and aptitude to add to his sinker/slider and emerge as a starter. In 2020, Houck made good on that belief as he refined his delivery and pitch mix over two months at the alternate training site and made a dazzling big league debut with one earned run over 17 innings while dominating three playoff teams.
  
  Scouting Report: Houck quieted his crossfire delivery at the alternate site to establish better direction to home plate. He also raised his low three-quarters arm slot a tick, establishing a better release point for his 90-93 mph sinker, 92-94 four-seamer and low-80s slider. After struggling for much of his career to handle lefthanded hitters, Houck shelved his changeup in favor of a splitter, which he rarely used in the big leagues but shows potential as a viable third pitch. He demonstrated excellent poise in the majors and adapted well to whatever was working, alternately emphasizing his two- and four-seam fastballs while displaying a wipeout slider against which hitters were 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.
  
  The Future: Houck put himself in position to open 2021 in the big league rotation with his debut performance. The development of his splitter will likely determine his career path. .
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 65. Splitter: 45. Control: 45.
  Track Record: When the Red Sox drafted Houck with the 24th overall pick out of Missouri in 2017, they believed he had the athleticism and aptitude to add to his sinker/slider and emerge as a starter. In 2020, Houck made good on that belief as he refined his delivery and pitch mix over two months at the alternate training site and made a dazzling big league debut with one earned run over 17 innings while dominating three playoff teams.
  
  Scouting Report: Houck quieted his crossfire delivery at the alternate site to establish better direction to home plate. He also raised his low three-quarters arm slot a tick, establishing a better release point for his 90-93 mph sinker, 92-94 four-seamer and low-80s slider. After struggling for much of his career to handle lefthanded hitters, Houck shelved his changeup in favor of a splitter, which he rarely used in the big leagues but shows potential as a viable third pitch. He demonstrated excellent poise in the majors and adapted well to whatever was working, alternately emphasizing his two- and four-seam fastballs while displaying a wipeout slider against which hitters were 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.
  
  The Future: Houck put himself in position to open 2021 in the big league rotation with his debut performance. The development of his splitter will likely determine his career path. .
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Houck’s development has traveled a crooked line since being taken in the first round in 2017. He tried to overhaul his pitch mix in early 2018 with initially disastrous results at high Class A Salem but found considerable success down the stretch with a balanced repertoire. In 2019, he alternated dominant performances—often against righty-heavy lineups—with struggles as a starter in Double-A and did the same out of the bullpen at Triple-A. He went back to starting in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Houck’s combination of a 92-97 mph two-seamer and four-seamer with a sweeping slider from a low three-quarters arm slot creates nightmares for righties, but he’s struggled to show similar command against lefties, who have hit .283/.383/.363 against him. On days where he flashes a solid changeup and locates his slider to both righties and lefties, Houck looks like a potential starter, but his difficulty in repeating a crossfire delivery with a lot of moving parts has convinced many that his future is in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: Houck likely will open 2020 back at Triple-A, offering the Red Sox a spot-starting option or bullpen depth, with a potential future as a setup man. The Red Sox have resisted giving up on him as a starter, but his proximity to the big leagues suggests a decision about his role looms.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Houck's development has traveled a crooked line since being taken in the first round in 2017. He tried to overhaul his pitch mix in early 2018 with initially disastrous results at high Class A Salem but found considerable success down the stretch with a balanced repertoire. In 2019, he alternated dominant performances—often against righty-heavy lineups—with struggles as a starter in Double-A and did the same out of the bullpen at Triple-A. He went back to starting in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Houck's combination of a 92-97 mph two-seamer and four-seamer with a sweeping slider from a low three-quarters arm slot creates nightmares for righties, but he's struggled to show similar command against lefties, who have hit .283/.383/.363 against him. On days where he flashes a solid changeup and locates his slider to both righties and lefties, Houck looks like a potential starter, but his difficulty in repeating a crossfire delivery with a lot of moving parts has convinced many that his future is in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: Houck likely will open 2020 back at Triple-A, offering the Red Sox a spot-starting option or bullpen depth, with a potential future as a setup man. The Red Sox have resisted giving up on him as a starter, but his proximity to the big leagues suggests a decision about his role looms.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  A sinker/slider mix drew the Red Sox to Houck as a first-rounder in 2017, but during the offseason, the big righthander explored several changes to his mix, committing to a four-seamer and curveball. The changes led to early-season struggles (a 6.16 ERA, control struggles and homerun vulnerability through 11 starts) before Houck recommitted to his two-seamer in mid-June. When he did, the results—more groundballs, better control—followed almost immediately. With a mid-90s sinking fastball and a breaking ball that has wipeout potential, Houck has the makings of a late-innings reliever. If his changeup develops, there’s still a chance he could emerge as a starter.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Houck entered 2017 as a preseason All-American. Yet despite another solid year in the Southeastern Conference, his anticipated dominance as a junior didn't materialize, leaving a pitcher projected as a potential top-10 pick on the board for the Red Sox at No. 24. Scouting Report: Houck features a low three-quarters arm slot and a cross-body delivery, with moving parts that create deception but also pose challenges for his mechanical consistency. While his velocity was down at the start of his junior year, he was once again sitting at 92-93 mph and topping out at 97 by the end of the year, with a nasty two-seamer that evoked comparisons with Jake Peavy and Kevin Brown. He also threw a slider that came on as a wipeout offering. The Red Sox believe that with his ability to spin the ball from a low arm slot, he has a chance to generate more swings and misses by using his slider off an elevated four-seamer. They also plan to introduce a cutter, changeup and two-seam fastball to the mix. The Future: Houck's fastball and slider offer a solid floor of a late-inning reliever, but if he can broaden his mix, he has mid-rotation potential. He will open his first full pro season in 2018 at one of the Class A affiliates.