Tanner Houck, a USA Baseball National Team starter at last November's II WBSC Premier12, looked like a veteran in mid-season form in his big league debut with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, showcasing a fastball in the mid-90s and a devastating slider that keep hitters off balance.
Houck, a first-round draft pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, pitched five scoreless innings in his debut, allowing two hits, while issuing three walks and striking out seven. He picked up the win in Boston’s 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.
“The reality is definitely everything I could have imagined,” Houck told mlb.com. “Especially now, getting to pitch for my cause and my charity is definitely a bonus on top of gaining this experience. It was … I can’t even put it into words.”
Houck became the 12th USA Baseball Premier12 2019 player to reach the big leagues this season. He joined his Premier12 teammates Bobby Dalbec, Alec Bohm, Brent Rooker, Jo Adell, Daulton Varsho, Jake Cronenworth, JP Feyereisen, Mark Payton and Cody Ponce in making their MLB debut during the shortened 2020 season.
Red Sox teammate Dalbec played first base for the US National Team at the Premier12, made his debut on 30 August and has since blasted six home runs in one of the hottest rookie starts in Red Sox history.
Houck started two games in the II WBSC Premier12 2019. He started against Mexico in the opening round at Charros de Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara. He worked 4.1 innings and allowed five hits and three runs, while striking out six. Then he opened USA’s Super Round game against Australia at the Tokyo Dome, pitching five innings, allowing two hits, two runs and two walks. Houck was charged with the loss in both games. The right-hander posted a 3.86 ERA over 9.1 innings, with 11 strikeouts in the top-tier international tournament.
USA finished fourth in the II Premier12 2019, after an extra-inning loss to Mexico in the Bronze Medal Game, with a spot in the Olympic Games at stake.
