Red Sox Set This ‘Bottom Line’ For Tanner Houck Before All-Star Season

The Red Sox gave Tanner Houck an ultimatum of sorts last season.

As manager Alex Cora revealed to The Boston Globe, Boston held a meeting with Houck a few weeks into the 2023 campaign and informed him of the likelihood of a move to the bullpen. The right-hander was struggling as a starter, racking up high pitch counts and not working deep into ballgames.

The idea of a demotion didn't sit well with Houck, who proceeded to ask the Red Sox coaching staff how he could keep his spot in the rotation. At that point, the only solution was to throw strikes.

"That was the bottom line," Cora told Peter Abraham. "The five innings, 100 pitches, that doesn't play here."

That proved to be a critical juncture in Houck's career. Not only did he "learn to stand up for himself," but he also worked hard to make the necessary improvements to his game. Houck now is arguably Boston's most reliable starter, logging 14 quality starts across the first three-plus months of the season including four scoreless outings.

Houck will reap the benefits of his impressive turnaround this week in Texas, where baseball's biggest stars came together for the MLB All-Star Game. And five days removed from his last start, the 28-year-old very well could toe the rubber Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.