Boston Red Sox call up Collinsville’s Tanner Houck to make MLB debut against Marlins
Collinsville native Tanner Houck’s journey to the big leagues is about to be completed.
A 2014 graduate of Collinsville High School and current member of the Boston Red Sox, Houck will make his major league debut Tuesday against the Miami Marlins in Miami.
Ranked as the Red Sox’s No. 10 prospect, Houck, 24, was elevated to the Red Sox active roster on Friday. The team announced on Sunday that the 6-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher would get the start to open the three-game series against the Marlins.
A 2014 graduate of CHS, Houck was selected in the 12th round of the 2014 draft by Toronto following his senior season, but Houck opted to attend the University of Missouri where he played for three years. Following a junior season in which he finished 4-7 and struck out 95 hitters in 94 2/3 innings, he was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2017 draft as the No. 24 overall pick.
Houck received a signing bonus of $2.6 million. Since making his minor league debut in 2017 with Class A Lowell, Houck has compiled a record of 15-20 but has struck out 243 hitters in 249 innings.
Houck had his best season a year ago. He was 8-6 with a 4.25 ERA while splitting time between Class AA Salem and Pawtucket. Houck also saw some time in the bullpen, as 16 of his 18 Class AAA appearances were in relief.
Houck is the second former metro east area standout to make his major league debut in a month. Former Columbia High School star Josh Fleming, debuted with the Tampa Bay Rays in August and is currently 3-0 in his first four big league starts.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
