BOSTON — Tanner Houck had the opportunity to speak with former Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, but they didn’t chat about throwing two-seamers and mixing in the four-seam fastball.

“I had one conversation with Rick and it was actually about fishing,” Houck told MassLive.com at Red Sox Rookie Camp this month.

Houck has overhauled his mechanics and added to his pitch mix since the Red Sox drafted him 24th overall out of Mizzou in 2017. The Red Sox want Houck to attack hitters in a similar way to how Porcello does: mostly using the two-seamer but also elevating with the four-seamer.

The 23-year-old posted an 8-6 record, 4.01 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 33 outings (17 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket in 2019. The Red Sox moved him from starting to relieving in early July with the idea he could help out Boston’s bullpen down the stretch last year. He pitched well in relief (2.05 ERA, 22 innings at Pawtucket) but he never received the call to the big leagues.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander is back to starting. He enters spring training 2020 as a non-roster invitee to big league camp. The Red Sox feel he has a lot of potential as a starter. He recorded a 3.65 ERA in his 15 starts last year.

“Mechanically-wise, I’m definitely more directional toward home plate,” Houck said. “You look back at some videos and images of me in college, my toe was the only thing actually touching the rubber on the first base side. I would stride and land past the rubber on the third base side. So I was really cross firing. Since entering pro ball, I moved to where I’m more center on the mound or center on the rubber. And my direction has been incredibly improved. A lot more directional toward home plate.

“In terms of stuff-wise, I’ve added my four-seam, which has been very helpful in terms of being able to reach the glove side more often," he added. “With the two-seam, I have that tendency of trying to throw it glove side. Well, it runs and can leak back over the middle of the plate. So that’s kind of been a big improvement. But also with the four-seam being able to throw it up in the zone instead of just living down at the knees. Changing eye levels is very big in today’s game. It’s been that way throughout baseball history.”

He’s one of Boston’s top depth starters along with Kyle Hart, Mike Shawaryn and Ryan Weber.

The first official spring training practice for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 12.

“For me, it’s just one of those things, go in with the mindset of getting better every day and learn what I can from the guys that I’ll be surrounded by," Houck said. "And just put my best forward and be ready for whatever situation happens. That’s what I have been doing this offseason. Taking it day by day. Not kind of putting the cart before the horse type thing. So it’s been a good offseason really preparing myself mentally and physically for the season.”

Houck certainly showed he can pitch out of the bullpen if the Red Sox need him in that role at some point this coming season or in future seasons. His 2019 season ERA ended up at 4.01 because he allowed six runs while recording just one out in his first relief outing for Portland. He dominated thereafter.

He said he probably threw only two innings of relief between high school, college and his first year and a half of pro ball.

“I took it as 60-feet, 6-inches and nothing is changing; I’ve gotta go out there and get outs and just put my best foot forward,” Houck said. “The way I saw it was just treat it as a fun opportunity to learn what it’s like to be in a bullpen scenario compared to being a starter.”

He spent plenty of time last year picking the brains of other Pawtucket pitchers with big league experience or those who made their big league debuts during 2019. That’s nothing new for him, though.

“The biggest thing is to always be asking questions and learning from everyone you can around you,” Houck said. 'You can pick their brains."