The Astros have been at the forefront of pitcher development during this Golden Era. A glance at their recent rosters reveals a steady stream of prospects who have risen through the system and made meaningful contributions on the mound at the major league level. Among them, right-hander Hunter Brown might just be the most impressive of the bunch.
Hunter Brown was born and raised in Detroit and had just one college offer coming out of high school — from Wayne State University, which he gladly accepted. At the time, he was throwing in the 85–87 MPH range, but during his college career, he experienced a significant jump in velocity.
In 2019, the Astros selected Hunter Brown in the fifth round of the MLB Draft, signing him for $325,000. Shortly after the draft, I received a message from one of Brown’s childhood friends who boldly predicted he’d be the next Justin Verlander. It sounded like a lofty comparison at the time, but considering how impressive Brown has been, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched now.
After the draft, Brown threw 23.2 innings for Tri-City, racking up 33 strikeouts with a 4.56 ERA. The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season, sidelining many prospects—including Brown. However, he used that downtime to put in significant work back home, which paid off. His efforts earned him an aggressive promotion to Double-A in 2021, where he really began to gain momentum and draw attention.
Brown started out the year pitching for the Hooks, flashing his high 90s fastball, and striking out 76 in just 49.1 innings. He was then promoted to Triple-A where he had a 3.88 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 51 innings. A great first full season for Brown striking out 131 batters in 100.1 innings.
Despite a strong 2021 season, Brown entered 2022 largely overlooked on top prospect lists. But he quickly changed that narrative. Starting the year in Triple-A, he posted a dominant 2.55 ERA with 134 strikeouts over 106 innings. His performance earned him a late-season call-up to Houston, where he continued to impress—finishing with 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings and an outstanding 0.89 ERA.
Prior to the 2023 season, Brown finally landed on top prospect lists. He was rated the #28 prospect by Baseball America, the #43 prospect by MLB and the #48 prospect by Baseball Prospectus.
As a rookie in 2023, Brown posted a 5.09 ERA, but still managed to rack up 178 strikeouts over 155.2 innings. His underlying metrics painted a more encouraging picture, with a 4.27 expected ERA, a 4.37 FIP, and a 3.52 xFIP—numbers that suggested he was a strong breakout candidate heading into 2024. Unfortunately, the start of the 2024 season hasn’t quite lived up to those expectations.
Through his first six starts of 2024, Brown struggled mightily, posting a 9.78 ERA—prompting many fans to call for him to be sent back to Triple-A. But the Astros remained patient, and that patience was rewarded. Over his final 25 appearances, Brown turned things around in a big way, finishing the season with a stellar 2.51 ERA and 155 strikeouts across 147 innings from May to September.
So far in 2025, Hunter Brown has made a strong case as the best pitcher in baseball. Through his first five starts, the right-hander has posted a dominant 1.16 ERA, with just six walks and 31 strikeouts over 31 innings. In just a few short years, Brown has gone from an under-the-radar arm in the Astros system to a top prospect—and now, the ace of the Houston rotation. Yet another remarkable success story from an organization that continues to excel at developing pitching talent.
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