ARLINGTON -- Tanner Houck continued his rehab assignment with his third Minor League appearance on Tuesday, while Garrett Crochet threw another bullpen session at Fenway Park as both worked toward returning to Boston in relief roles.
Houck struck out the side and issued one walk in a scoreless inning with Triple-A Worcester against Durham.
The right-hander entered in the seventh and struck out Oliver Dunn looking at a 94.1 mph fastball. He then walked a batter before getting Austin Slater to swing through a 93.6 mph four-seamer and Jack Suwinski to chase an 83.5 mph sweeper.
Houck threw 22 pitches (11 strikes) and reached 94.2 mph with his fastball.
The 30-year-old is expected to make his next appearance on Friday, when he is scheduled for a longer outing in the 45-, 50-pitch range.
“Obviously some swing and miss in there. He has that capability,” interim manager Chad Tracy said ahead of Boston's bout with the Rangers Wednesday. “We all know -- and he said [it] himself, each time he touches the mound, getting his rhythm -- he gets a little bit more comfortable. That's all part of it. The strike-throwing piece and getting command of your pitches.
“So it seems at this point he's at least taking a step forward each time he goes out there, which is good. This next one will be good, being able to see [if he can] replicate that over a longer stretch of pitches.”
Houck, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, was initially placed on the 60-day injured list with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament and a right flexor pronator strain.
Crochet also took another step in his recovery.
The 2025 American League Cy Young Award runner-up threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park. Tracy said the session went well, but as of Wednesday the team did not have much clarity on Crochet’s next steps. He will continue his throwing program this week before the Red Sox re-evaluate him over the weekend.
Crochet has been building up his workload and intensity in recent bullpen sessions. He threw 25 pitches in his previous session Friday, when he incorporated his sweeper and threw his fastball in the 92-93 mph range.
The 27-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list since April 29 with left shoulder inflammation. He made six starts before the injury after opening the season as Boston’s ace.