Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora informed journalists on Saturday that pitcher Tanner Houck will have ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, as reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Houck, age 29, has been on the injured list since May 13 with a flexor pronator strain located in his right forearm. Such an injury often indicates a tear that necessitates reconstructive surgery, but the Red Sox were optimistic that Houck would recover through rest and physical therapy.
However, Houck’s rehabilitation assignment was halted on July 9 because he was still experiencing discomfort in his right arm. Last week, the Red Sox stopped him from throwing, suggesting that a return in 2026 was unlikely. At the time, Cora stated that surgery would not be required. However, after examining his MRI results, orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister recommended the procedure.
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Houck will now not only miss the rest of the 2025 season, but the surgery in August will likely keep him out of action for the 2026 season as well. Houck had an 8.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings in nine starts before being placed on the injured list.
Houck, Boston’s first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) in 2017 from Missouri, has a 3.97 ERA and a 24-32 record in 113 games (80 starts), with an average of 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Last season, he was selected to the MLB All-Star team, finishing with a 3.12 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings.
Houck’s uncertain status made the acquisition of another starting pitcher a top priority for the Red Sox at the MLB trade deadline. Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer, acquired Dustin May (6-7, 4.85 ERA) from the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as reliever Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals.
However, critics claimed that the team did not add enough, considering that they are four games behind first place in the AL East and have a shaky grip on one of the league’s three wild-card playoff spots.
The Red Sox are ranked 12th in MLB with a 4.01 ERA from their starting pitchers, with Garrett Crochet, a candidate for the Cy Young Award, and Brayan Bello also performing well.
Walker Buehler, however, has been disappointing, while Lucas Giolito has been inconsistent. Furthermore, Hunter Dobbins suffered a season-ending right ACL tear prior to the All-Star break, and Patrick Sandoval, who signed as a free agent, has not fully recovered from left elbow surgery and is unlikely to pitch in 2025.
“It’s a difficult year for him, and a difficult year for us,” Cora stated, as reported by MLB.com. “But he’ll work hard in rehab, he’ll do his job, and he’ll be fine when he comes back.”
