Young Astros Pitcher Has Stuff To Be Breakout Star
Two years ago it was Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña who gave the team a lift with a breakout rookie season. Last year, Yainer Diaz gave fans a taste what he could be as an everyday catcher.
So who will break through for the Astros in 2024? ESPN listed one breakout candidate for each team, using projected WAR (wins above replacement) as a guide to their selections.
Diaz was a candidate. But ESPN ended up selecting a pitcher who made his debut last season when the Astros were short of arms and is back in the starting rotation to begin this season — Hunter Brown.
Brown was the Astros’ fifth-round pick in 2019 out of Wayne State in Michigan, and an injury to Justin Verlander — his idol growing up — paved the way for him to make his Major League debut.
With Verlander gone after the 2022 season and injury issues with several other Astros starters, Brown was in the rotation basically the entire season in 2023. He went 11-13 with a 5.09 ERA in 31 games (29 starts). In 155.2 innings he had a 1.362 WHIP with 10.3 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings.
His WAR last season was level —0.0. Fangraphs is projecting Brown with a 2.0 WAR, meaning it expects the youngster to improve.
ESPN sees Brown as a starter with strikeout stuff, evident by his nine-inning rate of a year ago. He showed durability making it through the entire season. Plus, he’ll get opportunity. Along with Verlander, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are out for at least part of the season.
So Brown isn’t going anywhere and that makes him a potential breakthrough candidate for the Houston Astros.
MATTHEW POSTINS
Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.