Despite a disappointing ending to the 2025 season, the Houston Astros did have their fair share of bright spots. Hunter Brown finally harnessed his filthy stuff to become one of the most dominant aces in the game. Jeremy Peña had an offensive breakthrough and became a star. But flying under the radar was another major bright spot for the Astros.
Capitalizing on his impressive half-season performance upon his debut in 2024, reliever Bryan King quietly emerged as one of the better late-inning weapons in the league. Entering 2025, King's spot on the opening day roster was a near-guarantee, not because of any faith Houston had in the 28-year-old, but rather simply because he throws left-handed.