Starting pitcher Hunter Brown isn’t just winning games for the Houston Astros this season—he might win them an additional Draft pick too, as noted by climbingtalshill.com.
Due to MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI), the Astros will secure a 2026 pick if Brown finishes in the top three of American League Cy Young voting this season. It’s all part of the league’s effort to reward teams who promote young talent to the majors as soon as possible.
Brown isn’t likely to win the AL Cy Young award, but he’s currently slated to finish third in voting, according to Fox Sports. That’s all Houston needs for an extra Draft pick.
How can Brown earn Astros’ a bonus pick?
MLB.com explains the criteria that must be met for a player to earn his team an additional Draft pick:
“MLB clubs can earn a Draft pick after the first round if a PPI-eligible player accrues one year of service as a rookie and then factors into a major award. That means he either has to win his league’s Rookie of the Year award or place in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting prior to qualifying for arbitration.”
A player is eligible for PPI if they’re considered a Top 100 Prospect on at least two of these three lists—MLB Pipeline, ESPN and Baseball America. They also must have fewer than 60 days of MLB service time and be rookie-eligible,.
Brown fits that criteria, but this offseason marks his first year of arbitration—meaning this is his last chance to give Houston a bonus Draft pick.
Brown is in the middle of a breakout season, boasting a 10-6 record and 2.37 ERA across 26 starts. He was also named to his first All-Star team this year and ranks third in the AL with 177 strikeouts.
Originally a fifth-round pick in the 2019 Amateur Draft, Brown has exceeded all of Houston’s expectations during his three full seasons in the majors. Let’s see if he can earn them a Draft pick, too.