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United Kingdom Houston Astros rookie Hunter Brown avoids skipped start
March 31, 2023Updated: March 31, 2023 10 a.m.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown follows through on a delivery during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Jupiter, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/Associated PressThe Houston Astros' 2023 rotation is lacking much of the experience of last year's crew, with Justin Verlander now in Queens and Lance McCullers Jr. on the Injured List to start the season. But Houston did receive some good news regarding its rotation depth on Thursday.
Houston general manager Dana Brown provided an update on rookie Hunter Brown before Thursday's loss to the Chicago White Sox, addressing the pitcher's health after he was scratched from his final start of Spring Training due to lower back tightness. The rookie pitcher threw a simulated game on Wednesday, which provided further encouragement to Houston's brass.
"He threw very well, he was 94-98 [miles per hour], cutter was back, [he was] pain free," Dana Brown told the media at Minute Maid Park. "Yeah, he's on track."
The rookie right-hander further confirmed his GMs comments when speaking with the media pregame. He noted he fully expects to start in Houston's seven-game homestand to open the 2023 season, likely squaring off against the Tigers. Facing the Tigers holds some special value to Brown, who is a Detroit native and childhood fan of both the Tigers and Verlander.
"Everything bounced back good and I'm right where I want to be," Hunter Brown said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day, help this team win some games."
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Brown struggled with his command in Spring Training, but he sports the upside of a potential Rookie of the Year candidate if he can harness his walk issues. Brown pairs a high-90s fastball with both a slider and curveball that induce plenty of whiffs, and he allowed just two earned runs across 20 innings in September and October of 2022. He'll now look to continue that success in his first full season in the big leagues, with his presumed first start of the year slated for Monday at Minute Maid Park.
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Michael Shapiro is a sports reporter for Chron, covering the Rockets, Astros and every team in town. Michael is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a noted fan of pull-up threes, wide-receiver passes and a good hot fudge sundae.
