One of the brightest, if not the brightest, spots for the Houston Astros despite their disappointing finish was the ascension of Hunter Brown. The 27-year-old has grown from a pitcher with a 5.09 ERA in his first big league season into one of the game's preeminent aces, finishing 2025 with a sparkling 2.43 mark.
That has earned Brown a nomination as one of three finalists for the AL Cy Young, alongside Boston Red Sox's ace Garrett Crochet, and the odds-on favorite, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. Brown's odds of taking home the honor are slim, but his inclusion is well-deserved.