Hunter Brown set to make his heavily-anticipated Astros debut Monday evening versus the Texas Rangers

Throughout the entire 2022 MiLB season with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Hunter Brown has seen his stock rise drastically and has put together a tremendous year that has garnered the interest of fans and the Houston Astros front office alike.

Hunter Brown absolutely carved up minor league batters - posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.085 WHIP through 106.0 innings pitched. His pitch arsenal is amongst the most impressive one could find in the minors. The two main pitches he possesses are a fastball averaging 96 mph that can top out at a blazing 99, and a wicked slider averaging 91.7 mph. Both of which have left batters flailing continuously left and right.

With his pitching prowess, one could put into question why he was not called up sooner, and there are two simple answers: the Astros starting rotation was already stacked, and their bullpen has been been the best in baseball. Leading up until the August trade deadline, the Houston Astros featured a 6-man rotation, mainly to preserve the arm of Justin Verlander who is in his first season coming back from Tommy John Surgery, but also the arms of Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez. All young starters who have never pitched a full season's worth of innings. Add in Luis Garcia and Jake Odorizzi, and there was the 6-man rotation - until Odorizzi was dealt to the Braves in August. A manuever made to shed salary for next season and because the ace of the Astros rotation last season, Lance McCullers Jr. was nearing a return.

There was never a question of whether Hunter Brown would see innings for the Houston Astros this season, it was a matter of when and in which role, as a starter or reliever. Now, with Justin Verlander on the 15-day IL, an opportunity presented itself for Hunter Brown to be inserted into the Astros starting rotation. A man waiting in the woodworks, with nothing left to prove against minor league competition he made look incompetent, has one of the biggest days of his life right around the corner. There will be plenty of eyes watching, and certainly nerves, but Hunter Brown has thrived off opportunity before, and seeks to do it again Monday night against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park.