Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora easily could have looked to reward Tanner Houck for past performance.

Houck’s 2024 campaign, in which he spearheaded Boston’s rotation, was named an American League All-Star and finished with a career-best 3.12 ERA in 30 starts, made him a candidate to accomplish something new: be the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox next week.

Instead, Cora went in a different direction, giving the honor not to a homegrown talent like Houck, but to prized offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet. The decision from Cora came with Houck’s blessing.

“Talked to Tanner. He was our best starter last year. He was an All-Star,” Cora told reporters over the weekend, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “He just said, ‘Give me the ball whenever.’”

Houck will take the mound for the second game of the season, and the 28-year-old right-hander had no issue being slotted in that spot, even after coming off a career year.

“ I think my entire career I’ve always been that way,” Houck told reporters Monday from JetBlue Park, per Smith. “Just give me the ball. That’s all I want to do. This is what I love to do. I’ve never worked a day in my life because I get to get to go out there and throw a ball for a living. I’m not going to be picky by any means. Give me a ball every five days and I won’t complain otherwise.”

Houck will make one more spring training start before the regular season commences. He’ll look to build off his solid showing from Monday when he allowed two unearned runs, six hits and no walks while recording three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles.

Walker Buehler in all likelihood will get the ball after Houck and Richard Fitts’ strong spring makes him a prime candidate for the fourth spot in the rotation with Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford all starting the season on the injured list. As for the final rotation spot, a surprise candidate might end up taking it.