Houser finding a home with Chicago as stuff 'starting to play up'

NEW YORK -- Citi Field is a familiar place to White Sox right-hander Adrian Houser. He spent last year as a member of the Mets.

Houser started the 2024 season in the rotation, but after throwing more like Doogie Howser, he was demoted to the bullpen as a long reliever. That didn’t work out either, and the Mets eventually released him on July 31. He said he was rooting for the Mets when they made it to the playoffs and advanced as far as the National League Championship Series.

“I was hoping they would go on a deep postseason run,” Houser said. “In Spring Training, I was saying, 'This is a really good ballclub.' I thought we had the potential last year. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to perform to help them. Watching them make that run -- it was a lot of fun to watch.”

Houser didn’t see Major League action, though he played in the Minors for the Cubs and Orioles later in 2024. Houser acknowledged he was in a dark place during that period. He said, “There was a lot of stuff going on off the field,” but he vowed to right the ship. Houser credits his wife, Megan, for getting him out of that dark place. He also ate better and had daily cold tubs, which helped him on the mental side.

But all Houser needed was a chance to make a big league club. Houser started 2025 with the Rangers, but didn’t get a sniff of big league action and was granted his release without having a Major League deal in place. Then, last Tuesday, Houser signed with the White Sox. That same day, he pitched his first game with Chicago and pitched six shutout innings in a victory over the Mariners.

On Monday, Houser returned to Citi Field and was dealing in a 2-1 loss against New York. It was the bottom of the ninth inning, the score tied at 1 and White Sox reliever Steven Wilson on the mound. Tyrone Taylor scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Francisco Lindor. It wasn’t Wilson’s fault for allowing the winning run; it was the White Sox offense, which went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

“You play well, you put yourself in a good spot there, you have to find a way to score more runs. Pitching and defense did a great job,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “... We have to continue to have good at-bats. The opposition is going to find different ways to attack you. We have to adjust and find ways [to be productive].”

It was Houser who did a great job on the mound. He pitched six-plus innings without allowing a run. The first hit Houser allowed came in the first inning when Brandon Nimmo doubled to right field with one out. After that, Houser retired 16 straight before Lindor singled with two outs in the sixth inning. Houser’s fastball was clocked as high as 96.8 mph, which is a couple of ticks higher than what he threw last year.

"He was nasty today, man," Taylor said. "His sinker was working really well. His changeup off of it was good, and he was mixing in the slider [well], too. Hats off to him. That was gross."

Houser left the game in the seventh inning after walking Juan Soto and allowing a single to Pete Alonso without recording an out, but left-hander Brandon Eisert was able to get out of the jam. With the bases loaded with two outs, Jeff McNeil struck out looking to end the threat. By leaving the Mets scoreless in that inning, Houser is only the second pitcher in White Sox history [Ken Brett was the first in 1976] to pitch more than 12 innings, allow five or fewer hits, and not allow any runs through his first two starts with the franchise.

There is a reason for Houser’s success. During the offseason, he went to Edmond, Okla., and worked at a place called Pitching WRX, a data driven company that helps pitchers improve their skills on the mound.

“They identified some things and they were able to get my arm strength stronger.” Houser said. “So with a combination of being good with the mechanics and better arm strength, it’s starting to play up.”

It looks like Houser may have found a home in Chicago.

“His stuff is really good. He attacks the zone. He throws everything for strikes. He obviously has a plan and is able to go out and execute it,” Venable said.