Astros’ Hunter Brown set for another rehab start Wednesday, but activation remains on the table

Houston right-hander Hunter Brown will make his fourth, and possibly final, minor-league rehab start on Wednesday, June 10, Astros manager Joe Espada said. The plan calls for Brown to pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land for the third time during his rehab assignment. The Astros are also weighing whether to activate Brown sooner rather than later, depending on how his arm responds, an approach that Espada left open after earlier conversations about building extra cushion for a return from a 60-day injured list.

The rehab workload has increased deliberately. In the first three outings of the assignment, Brown’s pitch counts moved from 35 to 44 to 57, according to Espada’s remarks reported by Houston beat writers. Houston Chronicle coverage also described Brown’s most recent Sugar Land rehab outing as a 4 1/3-inning appearance in which he threw 57 pitches, placing him on pace for roughly 70 to 75 pitches in the next start. That number matters because a quicker jump to the majors after three rehab outings would likely have required a piggyback plan if Brown were capped around 70 pitches.

Brown’s return has major roster implications for an Astros club that has been forced to patch together rotation innings during his absence. Brown entered the season as Houston’s ace, emerging as a top figure in 2025 and beginning 2026 with a 0.84 ERA across his first two starts before suffering a Grade 2 shoulder strain. At the time of Espada’s comments, Brown was among seven pitchers and 10 total players on Houston’s injured list, and the Astros’ rotation has relied on other starters to stay afloat. Brown going back to the front of the rotation would be a meaningful swing in stabilizing Houston’s run prevention as the schedule compresses in midseason.

While the Astros manage their starting-pitching path back, they are also trying to shape bullpen depth through prospects. Miguel Ullola, a pitching prospect with a high-strikeout profile but longstanding control challenges, has been transitioned into a full-time relief role. The idea, Espada said in comments reported by MLB beat coverage, is that the closer Ullola gets to Triple-A, the more the organization can narrow down what kind of pitcher he will be able to impact the roster with. Since moving to relief, Ullola’s fastball has been clocked touching 97.3 mph, and the Astros have emphasized the velocity boost that can come with a bullpen assignment, even as his command remains a work in progress.

Ullola’s recent relief work has also reflected that tradeoff. MLB Trade Rumors reported that Ullola had been charged with three runs over two-thirds of an inning in his latest appearance but had not allowed a run in his previous five relief innings. Houston previously added Ullola to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft in November 2025, a move that indicated the organization’s belief that his next developmental step could lead to a major-league opportunity.

The immediate concern on the position player side came Sunday against the Athletics, when second baseman Nick Allen left the game with left hamstring discomfort. Allen told reporters he felt something “grab” as he tried to leg out a double, and Houston described the issue postgame as a cramp while planning evaluation. Allen expected imaging on Monday and said he hoped it would not be serious. His status is particularly relevant given how often Houston has needed infield depth this season, including earlier time missed for back spasms.

Brown’s rehab start, Allen’s test results, and Ullola’s continuing adjustment to relief are the three threads shaping Houston’s short-term outlook. If Brown gets through Wednesday’s session with the expected buildup, the Astros may move toward activation quickly, which would reduce the burden on their rotation depth. At the same time, any hamstring setback for Allen could force another shuffle across the infield, and Ullola’s next outings will indicate whether Houston can turn bullpen velocity into reliable innings rather than sporadic trouble.