Prospects on Deck: RHP – Hunter Brown – Astros

Embed from Getty Images

The Houston Astros selected Hunter Brown in the 5th round of the 2019 June Draft out of Wayne State University.

At Wayne State University, he finished his junior season, 9-0, with a 2.21 ERA, in 14 starts and struck out 114 batters in 85.1 innings.

In his first season of pro ball action with the Low A Ball squad, the Detroit, Michigan native started in six of his 12 appearances and in 23.2 innings of work, he was 2-2, with a 4.56 ERA and 33 strikeouts.

After sitting out the 2020 season with all of minor league baseball, Brown started 2021 in Double A and was 1-4, with a 4.20 ERA in 11 starts, and recorded 76 strikeouts through 49.1 innings of work.

He was then moved up to Triple A and in eight starts, he was 5-1, with a 3.88 ERA, and 55 strikeouts through 51 innings.

Last season, Brown took a step forward in his development in Triple A, finishing with a 9-4 record, appearing in 23 games, while starting 14. He threw 106 innings, struck out 134 batters and opponents only hit .186 against him.

On September 5, 2022, Brown made his MLB debut as a starter and threw six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and struck out five to earn his 1st MLB victory. He started his next game and threw six innings, allowed two runs on five hits, and struck out six batters, while earning victory number two.

The Astros shifted the rookie right hander to the bullpen and he did not give up a run through five games, allowing seven hits in 8.1 innings, while striking out 11 batters. He was rewarded with three postseason games and combined he threw 3.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits and struck out a batter.

Brown was ranked #68 on the 2022 MLB Top 100 Prospects list and after his strong performance in 2022, he jumped up to #43 on the list for 2023.  He is the overall Top Prospect in the Astros organization.

There are high hopes for Brown as he enters the 2023 season and even though this spring training he has struggled through two starts with his control, he is slated to be in the bullpen in 2023 with the big club.

Look for Brown to settle into his role and become another dominate pitcher on the Astros staff.

David Conde

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.