Tanner Houck is finally back on the path to the big leagues, and the Red Sox now have a decision coming into focus.
The 2024 All-Star starter, who was buried by a brutal start last season before landing on the injured list in May, is beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Houck and the club announced the move on Monday.
For Houck, the return carries plenty of meaning after a year that took him from a rehab attempt to a full shutdown and, eventually, Tommy John surgery in August.
“Long year, long process,” said Houck, via Browne. “But this was the goal from Day 1: to get back around this time and get some real competition under my belt. That never left my sight for a second, getting back around this time and facing real hitters, getting actual game competition.
“Tomorrow’s a great stepping stone in the right direction and finishing out this rehab and attacking it day by day. A little over a year later now, it’s good to be back.”
The ramp-up begins Tuesday, when Houck is expected to work around 20 pitches. His second rehab outing is scheduled for Friday, when that count should climb into the 40-to-45 range. What comes after that remains unclear.
What does seem clear is that a return to the rotation is not in the cards. Instead, the question is whether Houck can pitch his way into a relief role and perhaps force his way onto the playoff roster, which carries two fewer pitchers than the September roster.
That’s the kind of conversation Craig Breslow, Chad Tracy, and the Red Sox will soon have to weigh, if they aren’t already. Houck still has to do the heavy lifting first and make it impossible to ignore him.
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