Houck leads Tigers into 2016
Every game matters. This approach is not just the mentality of the Missouri baseball team after coming up just short of making it to the postseason last year, but also the mentality that sophomore Tanner Houck takes when on the mound.
Houck is coming off of a remarkable freshman season in which he was named a freshman All-American and a member of the All-SEC Freshman Team, The 6-foot-5 inch righty had eight wins, which was the most by a Mizzou freshman since Kyle Gibson in 2007. In 15 starts, Houck pitched 100.2 innings with a 3.49 ERA, 91 strikeouts and 12 walks. Recently, PerfectGame.org dubbed Houck the top prospect for the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft.
“It’s an honor, but it is a while away,” Houck said. “I have to stay hungry and keep doing what I did to earn that reward. I have to continue to improve myself whether it be in the weight room, on the field, my pitches, whatever it is I just have to stay hungry.”
This past summer, Houck and teammate Ryan Howard played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Houck led the team in innings pitched, strikeouts, and starts. He held batters to a .159 batting average while having an 11-1 strikeout-walk ratio. One of the highlights from this summer included four perfect innings from Houck in a combined no hitter with SEC counterparts A.J. Puk (Florida) and Ryan Hendrix (Texas A&M) against Cuba.
“Honestly it didn’t really hit me until after the game,” Houck said. “Obviously I didn’t do all the work there with A.J. Puk and Ryan Hendrix coming in along with our amazing defense behind us.”
On and off the field, Houck and Howard could not get away from each other, as they were roommates this summer. The bonding time the two shared proved to be beneficial as they head into this season.
“It was a blast, Ryan and I get along pretty well, we didn’t kill each other,” Houck said jokingly.
Howard echoed the same message.
“We watched a lot of movies, had some arguments about what to watch on TV, or if he is going to talk to his girlfriend that night while I try to sleep,” Howard said. “He is an awesome kid. I like to pick his brain because I can learn a lot from him as a hitter based off of what he is trying to do.”
Houck’s tenacity on the mound puts him in an elite class. His cold-blooded outlook was seen on a national and international stage. No matter who is in the batters box, Houck believes he can get the job done, as does Howard.
“He is a bulldog, he is not scared of any hitter on any stage, he is not going to back down,” Howard said. “He was a freshman out there last year and he acted like a senior. I asked him if he was nervous during his first game last year and he goes 'No.' I am expecting huge things again from him this year.”
Coach Tim Jamieson plans on keeping redshirt senior, Reggie McClain, as his Friday night starter, followed by Houck on Saturday and Sunday is up for grabs between Austin Tribby and freshman southpaw Michael Plassmeyer. Having two starting pitchers back from the rotation last year gives Mizzou one of the better one two punches in the SEC. When it comes to Houck’s demeanor, Jamieson could not be more impressed.
“It’s a tool that is not talked about enough,” Jamieson said. “It is the difference maker at such a young age and big environment. We have had some really good pitchers, but we haven’t had anybody do what he did as a freshman. I hate to compare anyone to Max Scherzer in the pro level, but I think Tanner has that much of an opportunity to be successful at the next level.”
The season cannot start soon enough for Houck and the Tigers.
“Every game matters, whether you are winning by 10 or winning by one, every out of the 27 is the biggest out of your life,” Houck said.
Opening day is Friday, Feb. 19 vs. Seton Hall University at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida.