Hunter Brown’s impressive 2025 season didn’t boost the Houston Astros into the American League playoffs. However, his excellence in 2025 could bring significant benefits to his club in future seasons.
Brown was named one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young on Sunday alongside Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) and Garrett Crochet (Boston Red Sox), with the Cy Young winner set to be announced on Nov. 12. The benefit for the Astros? Houston will now earn an extra draft pick thanks to MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI), rewarding the Astros for their 2022 call-up of Brown to the majors and his subsequent success in 2025. Houston will now have an extra pick after the first round of the 2026 MLB draft, likely between pick No. 31 and No. 35.
Brown isn’t leaving Houston anytime soon, as he’s under contract through 2028. However, Brown’s success in 2025—highlighted by a 2.43 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 100 innings—could land the Astros their next Brown, a homegrown staff anchor who rises to the top of the American League. Finding such a gem in the draft is tough, especially with a pick after No. 30 overall. But looking at Houston’s current roster and farm system, taking a flier on the top pitcher available seems like a likely route for general manager Dana Brown.
Houston’s pitching staff is in a tenuous position entering 2026. Brown is an ace without reliable support behind him. In 2025, he was one of only two Houston pitchers to reach 100 innings, along with Framber Valdez, who is expected to leave Houston in free agency. The Astros plan to rely on Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti and Lance McCullers Jr., though all three dealt with injury issues last season and in previous years. There is no clear future rotation anchor in the minor leagues, as no Astros pitching prospect is ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects.
Brown signaled at his end-of-season press conference he intends to pursue additional starting pitching in free agency. However, any newcomers will be more band-aids than long-term solutions for the next decade. The draft is the more likely route to the franchise’s future ace, either with an aging Brown, or in an uncertain, post-Brown future.
Brown is unlikely to win the AL Cy Young, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll return to the postseason in 2026 with yet another reshuffled Houston roster. There’s plenty of uncertainty with Astros at the moment. Brown is a much needed source of consistentcy, a steady source of excellence for a club eyeing a return to championship contention.
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