As the Houston Astros gear up for the new regular season, anticipation is mixed with curiosity about how they’ll handle the changes from a blockbuster offseason. The Astros were quite the buzz this winter, seeing some of their marquee players, like Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, find homes elsewhere.

This shakeup took many by surprise. But even in the face of this overhaul, the Astros aren’t starting from scratch.

They boast a firmly anchored pitching rotation with Framber Valdez leading the charge, reassuring fans that they’re not out of the running just yet.

While there were whispers about Valdez potentially joining the exodus, Houston wisely held onto their ace. Behind Valdez, a brigade of talented young arms is eager and ready to step up, possibly challenging him for the number one spot in the coming years.

In fact, it’s this depth in their rotation that could serve as the Astros’ secret weapon. Their success will hinge on these young pitchers delivering under the spotlight.

One pitcher, in particular, stands out as ready to reach for the stars, despite a somewhat deceptive 2024 season. Enter Hunter Brown, poised to make waves in 2025.

Some see him as the Astros’ dark horse in the American League Cy Young race. Armed with a newly integrated sinker to his arsenal, Brown has become a master at keeping hitters on their toes, limiting solid contact and ground balls aplenty.

If he can sidestep a rocky start to the year, Brown has all the tools to position himself seriously in the Cy Young conversation.

Last year, the 26-year-old posted a solid 11-9 record with a 3.49 ERA, striking out 179 batters. Impressive, yes, but it was his second-half performance—sporting a stellar 2.26 ERA over 12 starts—that truly turned heads. Such stats in a significant stretch speak volumes about his potential to be Houston’s next ace.

If Brown can replicate those numbers over a full season, he’d firmly place himself in the AL Cy Young discourse. Though the award might appear Tarik Skubal’s to lose, Brown’s consistent excellence through an entire season could pose a serious challenge to the reigning Cy Young champion. At 26, his dark horse status is not just a boost for Brown but a beacon of hope for the Astros as they navigate this transitional phase.