Hunter Brown has quickly emerged as one of the Houston Astros’ most effective pitchers this season, showcasing his talent with remarkable numbers. The 26-year-old right-hander, who played college baseball at Wayne State University, ranks third among qualified pitchers in the junior circuit for WAR, ERA, FIP, and strikeout rate, trailing only Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet. This impressive performance earned Brown his first All-Star selection, reflecting his growing prominence as a major league starter.
Development From Prospect to Major League Competitor
Brown’s journey from a promising prospect to a reliable MLB starter has been marked by steady progress and continual adjustments. Initially featured as a prospect by FanGraphs in April 2021, Brown was still developing his pitching style then. By August 2023, after making his major league debut in September 2022, he had already begun refining his delivery. In an interview during the Astros’ early 2024 series at Fenway Park in Boston, Brown discussed the significant changes he has made to his pitching arsenal and approach.
Introduction of Two-Seam Sinker and Cutter Variations
One of the most notable evolutions in Brown’s pitching repertoire is the addition of a two-seam sinker and variations of cutters and sliders.
“Two years ago would have been before I started throwing a two-seam sinker and before I started throwing both cutters and sliders. That’s probably the biggest change,”
Brown explained.
He described his cutters and sliders as closely related but distinct pitches, each designed to serve a specific purpose depending on location and target batter. Brown throws two types of cutters: one resembling a slider with vertical break, and the other a true cut-fastball grip aiming to generate movement in the upper zone to induce swings and misses or weak pop-ups. Brown emphasized the subtle grip differences that separate these two pitches.
“It’s essentially just two different grips. There is the slider I’ve been throwing for however long, and the other I just move over on the seams. It’s like a true cut-fastball grip. I try to ride that one up — I feel that keeping it at the top of the zone is my best chance for a whiff or a popup — and the slider I try to throw down for either a whiff or a groundball.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Motivation Behind New Pitching Mix
Brown’s decision to expand his pitch mix was rooted in the need to address effectiveness against left-handed hitters. Previously reliant on a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup, he noticed his slider was often targeted in areas favorable to hitters, resulting in strong contact and damaging hits. To counter this, Brown worked on throwing a cutter higher in the strike zone to better exploit vertical movement and keep left-handed batters off balance.
“I was like, ‘All right, I need to do something about that.’ I figured if I could throw it up in the zone, and if I can increase the hop, it will actually stay up there to lefties. That’s how it worked out, although it actually started with trying to throw my slider up in the zone. The ones that I was throwing there accidentally to lefties were performing really well, so I just kind of leaned into that with a newly designed way to get it there. That was the cutter.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Expanded Use of Changeup and Its Strategic Role
Brown also discussed the evolution of his changeup, which has become a more regularly utilized weapon in his arsenal. Though he once reserved the pitch for lower-risk situations, Brown now frequently employs it against batters from both sides of the plate. The changeup maintains a similar grip and shape to his splitter but with a focus on a smooth release and feel rather than a pure split.
“It’s a feel-based pitch that I’ve just become more comfortable with. When I first started throwing it, I only used it in the quote unquote safest times. I’d maybe throw it against guys who weren’t good at hitting changeups, or it was like wide open away. Now I use it to both batter sides. I feel comfortable going to it.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Horizontal Movement Enhances Pitching Effectiveness
The addition of the two-seam fastball has given Brown a second pitch, alongside the changeup, that moves arm-side with significant horizontal break. His best two-seam fastballs generate around 18 to 19 inches of horizontal movement, a feature Brown uses skillfully against both lefties and righties.
“My biggest, best reps are probably 18-19 [inches]. I’ve added throwing two-seams in to lefties, and I feel that playing the changeup off of that helps a lot. To righties as well. If I get a guy who is super cheating to my two in, the change can be a good pitch.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Brown noted he averages about 14 inches of arm-side movement on both his two-seamer and changeup, with some variability depending on pitch location, and rarely dips below the strike zone line.
“My bigger reps are like 18-19 [inches], but I probably average right around 14 with both my two and my changeup. Depth-wise, I have outlier reps that are around zero, but I never get really below the line. Zero from my slot feels like a lot. I probably average around seven or eight.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Refining Two-Seam Usage With Tactical Variations
Brown has also refined his approach to two-seam fastballs by developing tendencies such as front-hipping and back-dooring the pitch, which have enhanced his control and effectiveness. He began experimenting with these strategies last year and has incorporated them more deliberately this season.
“I like the idea of front-hipping and back-dooring two-seams. I don’t do it very often, but it’s something that I have definitely added, and that I have been able to execute this year. I started doing it a little bit last year, but this year more so. It kind of started with trying to go in to righties with two-seams, and if I missed away, I got a lot of takes. I was like, ‘This is something I can do by design, and lean into.’ I’ve done that.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Growing Confidence and Mental Approach in the Major Leagues
Despite the demanding nature of pitching at the highest level, Brown expressed growing confidence and enjoyment in his approach this year. Initially, his role in the majors involved pitching strictly to the veteran catcher Martín Maldonado’s directions during crucial moments. However, Brown now feels a stronger ownership of his role and process on the mound, which has positively influenced his mental game.
“Yes. I mean, it’s still the big leagues, and it’s very difficult, so it’s going to be a hard game. But I enjoy the mental aspect of it this year a lot more. I feel like in my first two years, specifically when I got called up in 2022, I just threw whatever [Martín] Maldonado wanted me to throw. Veteran catcher, it was playoff time, and I knew my role. Since then, I’ve kind of graduated into where I definitely feel like more of a pitcher. That’s especially true for me this year.”
—Hunter Brown, Houston Astros pitcher
Implications for Astros and Brown’s Future Prospects
Hunter Brown’s pitching evolution shows the impact of thoughtful adjustments and increased pitch variety in reaching a high-performance level in the major leagues. By adding new pitches like the two-seam sinker and refined cutter, while enhancing his changeup use, Brown has expanded the complexity of his arsenal and improved his ability to neutralize hitters. His mental growth as a pitcher also signals a sustained upward trajectory in his career.
For the Houston Astros, Brown’s continued development strengthens their starting rotation depth and provides a versatile pitcher capable of competing against a wide range of hitters. As the season advances, how Brown sustains this performance and adapts further will be critical for both his personal success and the Astros’ championship ambitions.