The Houston Astros have put their full confidence in Hunter Brown. Now he will lead the team in a spring training matchup.
The Houston Astros have left no doubt about who will be the leader of the rotation coming into 2026. The intentions are clear - Hunter Brown is the unquestioned number one man. The right-hander is scheduled to start on Wednesday, February 25, against the Miami Marlins.
Along with taking a good look at him in spring training ball, the Astros have already named him as the official For Houston, the decision put their confidence on full display, showing that Brown is ready to anchor the transitioning pitching staff.Brown earned his trip out to the mound as the starter in the rotation after he delivered the best season of his young career. In 2025, the right-hander posted:Brown’s scheduled start likely holds very little weight in evaluating him as the leadoff man in the rotation, but it certainly gives the organization a chance to evaluate his workload and rhythm ahead of the regular season.Houston also has another option that could ultimately force a six-man rotation or even a hard choice for manager Joe Espada. Mike Burrow could be the sixth man, or he could also take the place of Arrighetti in the rotation.Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Brown’s rise has been fueled by a power arsenal of pitches. His high-velocity fastball and improved secondary mix helped him post an elite strikeout profile in 2025. He also did a great job of keeping walks under control. Equally important for Houston is durability - and it should be. After a 2025 season plagued with injuries throughout the whole team. Brown, however, logged a career-high workload last season and consistently took games into late innings. Brown has the tools to remain not just Houston’s ace, but one of the American League’s premier starters.The Astros enter the 2026 season with fresh faces on the mound and will, no doubt, miss their former ace Framber Valdez. Fans can be excited about having Hunter Brown at the center of the plans. His upcoming start on Wednesday is just another step in getting him prepared for Opening Day. If Brown performs anywhere near his 2025 level and the supporting rotation holds steady, the Astros pitching outlook could once again become one of the club’s biggest strengths.Laura Lambert resides in Wiggins, Colo. with her husband, Ricky and two sons, Brayden and Boedy. She attended the University of Northern Colorado while studying economics. She is an accomplished rodeo athlete and barrel horse trainer along with being a life-long sports fan. Over the years, Laura has been active in journalism in a variety of roles. While continuing to cover western sports and country music, she is currently enjoying expanding her reach into multiple sports including MLB, NFL, and WNBA. Laura covers the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Rodeo for On SI. You can reach her at lauralambertmedia@gmail.com
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