Adrian Houser Bio
Adrian David Houser is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. Known for his durability as a starting pitcher and his unusual streak of vomiting episodes on the mound early in his career, Houser has built a reputation as a resilient workhorse in National League rotations.
Born on February 2, 1993, Houser came up through the Houston Astros organization before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015. After several seasons of shuttling between the majors and minors, he became a regular member of the Brewers rotation and has since pitched for five other organizations, ultimately landing in San Francisco on a two-year contract.
Early Life and Background
Adrian David Houser attended Locust Grove High School in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, where he starred for the school’s baseball program. A standout right-handed pitcher in the state, Houser drew attention from professional scouts and college recruiters alike. He ultimately committed to attend the University of Oklahoma to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team.
Baseball runs in the Houser family. He is the nephew of James Knott, a pitcher who was selected by the New York Mets in the 11th round of the 1992 MLB draft. His older brother Michael also played college baseball, suiting up for Northeastern State. Houser is a member of the Cherokee Nation, a heritage that has shaped his identity throughout his professional career.
Path to Baseball
Houser’s path to professional baseball accelerated quickly after high school. The Houston Astros selected him in the second round, with the 69th overall pick, of the 2011 MLB draft. He signed a contract with Houston just three days after being drafted and was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Astros to begin his pro career.
After six GCL games in which he went 1–2 with a 4.03 ERA and 25 strikeouts, the Astros promoted Houser to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. Between the two Rookie-level teams in 2011, he posted a 2–4 record with a 4.31 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 12 games and 48 innings pitched. He spent all of 2012 with Greeneville, going 3–4 with a 4.19 ERA in 11 starts, before progressing through Tri-City, Quad Cities, Lancaster, and Corpus Christi in the Astros system.
Adrian Houser Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
On July 30, 2015, the Astros traded Houser, along with Brett Phillips, Domingo Santana, and Josh Hader, to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Gómez and Mike Fiers. Milwaukee assigned him to the Biloxi Shuckers, where he finished the year with a 7–5 record and a 4.43 ERA across Lancaster, Corpus Christi, and Biloxi combined. He earned a September call-up that year and made his major league debut on September 26, 2015, allowing no earned runs in two relief appearances.
Houser spent all of 2016 with Double-A Biloxi, going 3–7 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts, and his 2017 campaign was severely limited by injury to just 17⅔ innings pitched. He began the 2018 season back at Biloxi before earning another recall to the majors.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2018–2023)
Houser was recalled to the Brewers’ major league roster on June 17, 2018, and pitched the team’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies that day. He appeared in seven games for Milwaukee in 2018 and posted a 3.29 ERA. In 2019, he appeared in 35 games, pitching to a 6–7 record and a 3.72 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 111⅓ innings pitched. A shortened 2020 season saw him record a 5.30 ERA and a 1-6 record across 12 games.
The 2021 season was Houser’s breakout year. He appeared in 28 games and made 26 starts, finishing with a 3.22 ERA. That season, he hit his first two major league home runs, both off Daniel Castano of the Miami Marlins, and tossed his first complete-game shutout against the Cardinals on September 4. He signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Brewers after the 2022 season and went 8-5 with a 4.12 ERA in 2023 before becoming a free agent.
New York Mets (2024)
On December 20, 2023, the Brewers traded Houser and Tyrone Taylor to the New York Mets in exchange for Coleman Crow. He made 23 appearances with seven starts for New York in 2024, logging a 1–5 record and a 5.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 69⅓ innings pitched. The Mets designated him for assignment on July 26, 2024, and released him on July 31.
After being released, Houser signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on August 6, 2024, posting a 3.86 ERA in four starts for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs before being released on August 31. He then signed with the Baltimore Orioles and made three starts for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides before electing free agency on November 4.
Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays (2025)
On May 20, 2025, Houser signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Chicago White Sox and made his debut the same day, giving up two hits over six scoreless innings to earn a win. In 11 starts for the White Sox, he posted a stellar 2.10 ERA, including one start in which he pitched eight scoreless innings. On July 31, 2025, Chicago traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Curtis Mead, Duncan Davitt, and Ben Peoples.
In 10 starts for Tampa Bay, Houser compiled a 2-3 record and a 4.79 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 56⅓ innings pitched. Between the Rays and White Sox in 2025, he finished with an 8-5 record, 125 innings pitched, a 3.31 ERA, and a career-high 3.1 WAR.
San Francisco Giants Era (2026–Present)
On December 19, 2025, Houser signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, who assigned him uniform No. 12. He is currently part of the Giants’ starting rotation as they look to compete in the National League. Through his early tenure in San Francisco, Houser has provided veteran innings and a steady presence on the mound.
Driving Style and Strengths
Houser is a sinker-heavy right-hander who relies on generating ground balls and limiting hard contact. He pairs his sinking fastball with a changeup and a breaking ball, using his pitch mix to attack hitters and work efficiently deep into games. His experience in multiple organizations has made him adaptable to different defensive schemes and pitch-tipping adjustments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Houser hit his first major league home run on April 27, 2021, off Daniel Castano of the Miami Marlins, and added a second career homer against Castano on May 8 of that same year. He also threw his first complete-game shutout against the Cardinals on September 4, 2021. He is famously known for several on-mound vomiting episodes early in his career, including a game against the Texas Rangers on August 11, 2019, when he recovered to notch ten strikeouts and finish as the winning pitcher.
Adrian Houser Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Adrian David Houser has compiled a verified win–loss record of 42–50 through his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and San Francisco Giants. His 2025 campaign with the White Sox and Rays was particularly strong, as he combined for an 8-5 record and a 3.31 ERA with a career-high 3.1 WAR.
MLB Highlights
Houser’s most consistent season came in 2021, when he posted a 3.22 ERA in 26 starts and threw his first complete-game shutout. His most recent productive stretch came in 2025, when he logged a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline.
Other Wins & Performances
Houser made his major league debut on September 26, 2015, with the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed no earned runs in two relief appearances. He earned his first big league win with the Brewers and notched double-digit strikeout performances, including a ten-strikeout win over the Texas Rangers on August 11, 2019.
Adrian Houser Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Baseball is woven into the Houser family. His uncle, James Knott, was a pitcher drafted by the New York Mets in the 11th round of the 1992 MLB draft, and his older brother Michael played college baseball at Northeastern State. Houser is also a member of the Cherokee Nation and remains close friends with fellow Cherokee Nation member and MLB pitcher Ryan Helsley.
Personal Life
Houser is married to his wife, Megan Houser. The couple has been a steady presence in his life throughout his travels across several MLB organizations. Houser is also recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation, a heritage he has spoken about during his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Houser’s 2025 season began with a minor league contract signed by the Texas Rangers, who released him on May 15. Just five days later, on May 20, the Chicago White Sox signed him to a one-year, $1.35 million contract, and he immediately delivered, giving up two hits over six scoreless innings in his White Sox debut. Across 11 starts with Chicago, he posted a 2.10 ERA, anchoring a young rotation and providing veteran stability.
On July 31, 2025, the White Sox traded Houser to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Curtis Mead, Duncan Davitt, and Ben Peoples. With Tampa Bay, he made 10 starts and compiled a 2-3 record with a 4.79 ERA. Between the Rays and White Sox, his combined 2025 totals were an 8-5 record, 125 innings pitched, a 3.31 ERA, and a career-high 3.1 WAR.
On December 19, 2025, Houser cashed in on his bounce-back season, signing a two-year, $22 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. The deal marked his return to a National League contender and set the stage for his next chapter in San Francisco.
