Adrian Houser Vomits, Pitches On vs. Blue Jays

When recalling instances of athletes performing while ill, the iconic image of Michael Jordan, a legend of the Chicago Bulls, often surfaces first. However, on Wednesday, Chicago White Sox pitcher Adrian Houser mirrored this dedication, stepping back onto the field despite experiencing nausea between innings.

This episode unfolded after the initial inning of Wednesday’s match against the Toronto Blue Jays. After successfully pitching a scoreless first inning, Houser experienced a bout of vomiting in the team’s dugout.

Despite this setback, Houser returned to the pitcher’s mound for the second inning, where the Blue Jays might have capitalized on his compromised state. Toronto managed to score a run against Houser during this inning, thanks to a strategic bunt executed by Tyler Heineman. This bunt compelled Houser to leave the mound in an attempt to make a defensive play; however, he struggled to secure the ball with his glove, resulting in the run being scored.

The reason behind Houser’s condition remains uncertain, especially considering his history of similar occurrences during games. Wednesday marked at least the third occasion in his career where Houser has vomited during a game and continued to pitch. The previous two instances happened when he was playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Back in 2018, Houser vomited twice on the pitcher’s mound during an inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. He conceded a run, allowing two doubles in the process. Post-game, then-manager Craig Counsell explained that Houser was not actually sick, but a mix of hot weather, insufficient food intake, and performance anxiety triggered the multiple vomiting episodes on the field.

The following year, Houser repeated the experience. During a game against the Texas Rangers, Houser vomited in the initial inning, just four batters into the game. He persisted in playing, managing to strike out 10 batters, ultimately leading the Brewers to a victory.

Houser delivered a strong performance on Wednesday, despite his stomach distress. He pitched for seven innings, allowing just one run, seven hits, and two walks, while also recording two strikeouts.

This performance further underscores the solid beginning to the season for the 32-year-old pitcher, who entered the game boasting a 1.60 ERA over 50 2/3 innings.