Hunter Brown once again found his name on a top-100 prospect list, gracing ESPN’s ranking at No. 41. Kiley McDonald is the latest analyst to consider the Houston Astros rookie among the best prospects entering the 2023 season, slating Brown in the 55 Future Value tier.
Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, The Athletic and MLB Pipeline all ranked Brown a top-100 prospect, ranging from No. 28 to No. 80. Brown’s 65-graded curveball is the best among pitching prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, but his path to a professional mound was never guaranteed.
Brown mentioned on the MLB Pipeline Podcast he received a walk-on offer to Eastern Michigan, where he wasn’t certain he’d either pitch or play catcher. Brown attended Wayne State instead, and after three seasons, the Astros selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Astros Outfielder Valencia Signs with Agency
Dominican Summer League outfielder Esmil Valencia signed with Republik Sports, an agency that also represents Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez. Valencia, a 17-year-old prospect, signed with the Astros on Jan. 15, when the 2023 international signing period opened.
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