Two Red Sox almost Rookies of the Year – Bobby Dalbec, Tanner Houck

Two Red Sox rookie successes could challenge for ROY in 2021.

The Boston Red Sox 60-game adventure was not a pleasant journey as the team finished last, but within the flummoxed roster was an opportunity for players who are classified as rookies. This resulted in pitchers who presented earned run averages that looked like the bank balance of Bill Gates or a batting average that resembled the weight of a former undernourished model known as “Twiggy.” In the dark recesses of the season, the Red Sox had two names surface that became bright spots – Tanner Houck and Bobby Dalbec.

Houck, a right-hander, was a first-round draft selection of the Red Sox (2017) who migrated through the farm system with a surprising losing record (15-20). He even had a losing record in college (17-18) as a starter with Missouri. Houck was ranked 10th by MLB Pipeline among Red Sox prospects. Apparently a nice Arizona Fall League in 2019 (3-2, 3.47) coupled with a positive impression at the alternate training site improved Houck’s status.

The Red Sox rotation was a wreck and Houck was finally given his shot and took full advantage. His mixture of a fastball, slider, and sinker gave the nice prerequisite of having multiple pitches being tossed with some degree of proficiency. The result was three wins, 17 innings tossed, and a lone run allowed. The negative is still work needs to be done on control.

Houck will not be the American League Rookie of the year nor will Dalbec.  With both, it is simply games and for Houck three starts despite a 1.2 bWAR will not make the grade. Too bad. Unfortunate. But he will still qualify for 2020.

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The Red Sox have had only one pitcher become Rookie of the Year and that was a towering sinker ball-tossing right-handed Don Schwall who won the AL prize in 1961. Schwall gave up only eight home runs that season for a league-best 0.4 HR/9 and went 15-7 with a 3.22 ERA, but was gone after 1962. In two seasons with Boston Schwall’s 4.5 K/9 was squelched by a 5.8 BB/9. When the sinker didn’t sink then Schwall was sunk.

Dalbec, like Houck, will still qualify for the 2021 award and may have actually been a strong contender this season with a few more games. Houck and Dalbec will get votes. But sometimes playing a few games and making an exceptional impact will get the nod. In 1959, Willie McCovey won the NL Award playing less than one-third of the schedule. “Stretch” hit .354 with 13 home runs and followed it up with a .238 average in 1960. McCovey certainly didn’t pack it in and ended up in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dalbec has a calling card that says power and not just any power, but all fields power. In just 80 at-bats, that was on display with eight home runs and also on display was Dalbec’s penchant for taking the walk of shame back to the dugout with 39 whiffs. That is Dalbec’s history – home runs and strikeouts – from Lowell to Pawtucket. In another era, Dalbec would be resigned to carrying luggage for teammates, but this era is a new age, and whiffs are part of the price of doing business.

In 2021, the Red Sox duo of Dalbec and Houck may be considered the possible front-runners for the ROY award. Houck will be in the rotation until be is proven a bust, but I am leaning towards Houck being right in the middle of that rotation.  This will not be Brian Johnson or Henry Owens. And Dalbec? At 25-years-old and with a taste of success, I am going to go all positive and not negative. I expect Dalbec to produce home runs, strikeouts, and a low average and play a solid defense where ever he ends up.