Adrian Houser Bio
Adrian David Houser, born on February 2, 1993, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed starter, Houser has pitched across multiple organizations since his MLB debut, building a reputation as a durable innings-eater with a competitive mound presence. He previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays.
Over the course of his career, Houser has also spent time in the minor league systems of the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles, working his way back to the majors on several occasions. He was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Locust Grove High School in Oklahoma.
Early Life and Background
Adrian David Houser was born on February 2, 1993, and grew up in Oklahoma, where he attended Locust Grove High School. At Locust Grove, he developed into a promising pitching prospect, drawing attention from college recruiters across the region. His early exposure to competitive baseball came through the Oklahoma high school system, where he refined his mechanics and built the foundation for a professional career.
Houser comes from a family with strong baseball ties. His uncle, James Knott, is a former pitcher who was selected by the New York Mets in the 11th round of the 1992 MLB Draft. Houser’s older brother, Michael, played college baseball for Northeastern State, further underscoring the family’s connection to the sport.
Following high school, Houser committed to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he was set to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team. His plans changed quickly, however, when the Houston Astros selected him in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, prompting him to begin his professional career immediately after signing with the organization.
Path to Professional Baseball
After being drafted 69th overall by the Houston Astros in 2011, Houser signed a contract with the club just three days later. He was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) Astros, where he made six appearances and posted a 1–2 record with a 4.03 ERA and 25 strikeouts. The Astros quickly promoted him to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, their other Rookie ball affiliate, where he finished his first professional season.
Between the GCL Astros and Greeneville, Houser went 2–4 with a 4.31 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 12 games and 48 innings pitched. He spent the entire 2012 season with Greeneville, going 3–4 in 11 starts with a 4.19 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 58 innings. Houser continued his development in 2013 with the Tri-City ValleyCats, where he pitched to a 0–4 record and a 3.42 ERA across 14 games, and in 2014 with the Quad Cities River Bandits, where he went 5–6 with a 4.14 ERA in 25 games.
Houser started 2015 with the Lancaster JetHawks and was promoted to the Corpus Christi Hooks, where his strong performance caught the attention of contending organizations. On July 30, 2015, the Astros traded Houser, along with Brett Phillips, Domingo Santana, and Josh Hader, to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Carlos Gómez and Mike Fiers, launching the next chapter of his professional journey.
Adrian Houser Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
After joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization midway through 2015, Houser was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers. Across his 2015 minor league stops with Lancaster, Corpus Christi, and Biloxi, he compiled a 7–5 record with a 4.43 ERA in 26 games. He was promoted to Milwaukee for the annual September call-ups and made his major league debut on September 26, 2015, allowing no earned runs across his two appearances that season.
Houser spent all of 2016 with Biloxi, going 3–7 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts. His 2017 season was limited by injury, restricting him to just 17⅔ innings of work. Despite the setback, Houser used the period to reset and prepare for his return to the major league rotation.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2018–2023)
Houser was recalled to the Brewers’ major league roster on June 17, 2018, and pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies later that day. The start was memorable, as he vomited twice on the mound during the game, the first of several such occurrences throughout his career. He appeared in seven games for Milwaukee in 2018, posting a 3.29 ERA.
In 2019, Houser became a regular contributor, appearing in 35 games and pitching to a 6–7 record with a 3.72 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 111⅓ innings. On August 11, 2019, against the Texas Rangers, he misfielded a ground ball, walked to the back of the mound, and vomited before settling in to strike out ten batters and earn the win. After a difficult 2020 season in which he posted a 5.30 ERA and a 1-6 record, Houser rebounded in 2021, appearing in 28 games with 26 starts and finishing the year with a 3.22 ERA. He also hit his first two major league home runs that season, both off Daniel Castano of the Miami Marlins, and tossed his first complete-game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 4.
Houser spent 2022 and 2023 continuing his role in the Brewers’ rotation, posting a 4.73 ERA in 2022 and an 8-5 record with a 4.12 ERA in 2023. On November 18, 2022, he had signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with Milwaukee to avoid arbitration. On December 20, 2023, the Brewers traded Houser and Tyrone Taylor to the New York Mets in exchange for Coleman Crow, ending his long tenure in Milwaukee.
Journeyman Years (2024–2025)
Houser made 23 appearances (7 starts) for the New York Mets in 2024, logging a 1–5 record and a 5.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 69⅓ innings. He was designated for assignment on July 26, 2024, and released on July 31. On August 6, 2024, Houser signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs, and later signed with the Baltimore Orioles on August 31, before electing free agency on November 4.
On December 7, 2024, Houser signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, and was released on May 15. He signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on May 20, 2025, and made his debut the same day, tossing six scoreless innings for a win. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, 2025, in exchange for Curtis Mead, Duncan Davitt, and Ben Peoples, compiling a 2-3 record and a 4.79 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 56⅓ innings for Tampa Bay.
San Francisco Giants Era (2025–Present)
On December 19, 2025, Houser signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, beginning a new chapter in his career. The move to San Francisco signals a return to a stable major league role, and Houser is expected to contribute innings and experience to the Giants’ pitching staff in the seasons ahead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Houser is a right-handed pitcher known for his competitive mound presence and ability to eat innings. He has shown the durability to handle high pitch counts, and his performance in 2021 demonstrated the upside he carries when working efficiently. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation and is close friends with fellow MLB pitcher and Cherokee Nation member Ryan Helsley.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the more memorable moments of Houser’s career are his on-mound incidents, including multiple games in which he vomited during play. One of the most remarkable came on August 11, 2019, when he vomited behind the mound against the Rangers and then struck out ten batters to earn the win. Houser also hit his first major league home run on April 27, 2021, off Daniel Castano, and later that year threw his first complete-game shutout against the Cardinals.
Adrian Houser Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Adrian David Houser comes from a family with deep ties to baseball. 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 for Northeastern State. Houser is also a member of the Cherokee Nation, a heritage that connects him to a broader Native American community in professional baseball.
Personal Life
Houser is married to Megan Houser. He maintains a close friendship with fellow Cherokee Nation member and MLB pitcher Ryan Helsley, reflecting the strong bonds he has built within the Native American baseball community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Adrian David Houser, beginning with a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He was released on May 15 after posting a 5.03 ERA across nine appearances for the Triple-A Round Rock Express. Shortly after, Houser signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on May 20, making his debut the same day with six scoreless innings and a win. In 11 starts for the White Sox, he posted a 2.10 ERA, reestablishing himself as a reliable starter.
On July 31, 2025, the White Sox traded Houser to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Curtis Mead, Duncan Davitt, and Ben Peoples. In 10 starts for Tampa Bay, he compiled a 2-3 record and a 4.79 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 56⅓ innings pitched, providing steady contributions down the stretch for the Rays.
His strong showing in 2025 set the stage for his next major move. On December 19, 2025, Houser signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, securing his long-term future in the majors. Heading into 2026, Houser is expected to play a meaningful role in the Giants’ rotation, bringing experience and a track record of durability to the staff.