Hunter Brown is the perfect embodiment of his hometown. In a place where grit is celebrated, you can’t help but think of the spirited football coach Dan Campbell, who champions the ‘core foundation’ of the Detroit Lions. But for those who’ve lived in Houston, this isn’t just talk—it’s a way of life. Hunter Brown was in high school when the Detroit Tigers, his boyhood team, made a 2014 postseason appearance.

It’s been nearly a decade now; their starting rotation back then featured Justin Verlander, the ace a young Brown emulated growing up in the Detroit area. On Wednesday, Hunter Brown is set to make his first major league playoff start. The stakes couldn’t be higher: a win for the Tigers would clinch their first postseason series since 2013 and propel them to the ALDS. But Brown will be on the mound, determined to prevent that outcome. 

Hunter Brown faces off against his boyhood team

The weight of expectation rests on his shoulders as he aims to help his team advance while facing off against his boyhood heroes. “If I think about it, when I was 10 or 11 years old, I thought about pitching for them,” Brown said of the Tigers late Tuesday afternoon, according to the Houston Chronicle. “So, a little bit different now.” On Wednesday, Hunter Brown will take the mound, aiming to help the Houston Astros extend their season. After a tough 3-1 loss to the Tigers in Game 1 of their best-of-three wild-card series, the Astros are in a must-win situation. They need a victory in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park to force a winner-take-all game on Thursday. 

Houston manager Joe Espada confirmed Brown as the Game 2 starter after Tuesday’s loss, noting that it was clear he would take the ball following Framber Valdez’s appearance in Game 1. Now, it’s up to Brown to step up in this pivotal moment and keep the Astros’ championship hopes alive. The 26-year-old right-hander, experienced a remarkable turnaround this season that kicked off in early May. After six starts, he found himself struggling with a 9.78 ERA. He pitched 4⅓ innings against Seattle in his first outing of that month, throwing up two runs while introducing the sinker that would eventually turn things around for him.

Doubt fueled Detriot’s rising star Hunter Brown  

During a series in Detroit, the Astros decided not to use him in the rotation for his next appearance and instead sent him to the bullpen. That proved to be a crucial decision. Brown entered the game after the Tigers had blasted Cristian Javier for seven runs. He pitched five shutout innings, gave up only one run, and struck out seven batters. Now, he stands ready to face the pressure of his first playoff start, with that standout performance setting the tone for the rest of his season.

The Houston Astros pitcher has maintained his off-season residence in downtown Detroit, where he enjoys touring Comerica Park and going on walks with his dog, Whiskey. Only nine draft selections have come from Wayne State University in the 83-year history of the baseball program, and Brown is one of them. Brown, wearing #58, may become the best player Wayne State has ever produced, ready to surpass all previous records in playing ability. The 2022 debutant channels doubt as his motivation, using it to fuel his drive and determination every step of the way.

Whether it came from talent evaluators who doubted he could stay as a major-league starter or from the Division I school that gave him a job as a bullpen catcher. On baseball’s grandest stage, however, the native of Detroit has proven the doubters wrong at every turn. Representing the hopes of a youngster who once looked up to the Tigers, he is getting ready to watch another postseason run, this time with the Houston Astros. With everything coming full circle, Brown is ready to seize the opportunity.