Astros Update on Hunter Brown, Nick Allen, and Miguel Ullola

Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed that Hunter Brown will make his fourth and likely final minor league rehab start on Wednesday, pitching for Triple-A Sugar Land. Brown has already increased his workload with each outing, logging 35, 44, and 57 pitches in his first three rehab starts. The right-hander, who is coming off a Grade 2 shoulder strain, is expected to return from the 60-day injured list after fully building up his arm strength.

Brown was the ace of Houston’s rotation in 2025 and started the season strong with a 0.84 ERA over his first two starts. His injury has been one of several setbacks for the Astros, who currently have seven pitchers and 10 overall players on the injured list. The team sits at 30-37, but recent form has shown signs of improvement with a 13-9 record in their last 22 games.

Yordan Alvarez has led the offense with MVP-level production while pitchers like Spencer Arrighetti, Peter Lambert, and Kai-Wei Teng have stepped up in the rotation. Espada’s cautious approach with Brown means the team is prioritizing long-term health over a premature return.

Meanwhile, backup infielder Nick Allen left Monday’s game against the Athletics after feeling discomfort in his left hamstring. Allen singled in the third inning before exiting. “I was trying to leg out a double there and kind of felt something grab on me, a little bit on the left hammy, lower left side,” Allen told MLB.com. He will undergo testing to determine the severity of the injury.

Allen has played in 37 games this season, filling in at second base, third base, and shortstop due to the Astros’ injury woes. While his offensive output has been modest (.266/.304/.344 in 70 plate appearances), he has remained a valuable depth option.

In another roster update, the Astros have shifted pitching prospect Miguel Ullola to a full-time relief role. Ullola, who turns 24 later this month, has struggled with consistency over his six-season minor league career, posting a 30.54% strikeout rate and 15.75% walk rate in 471 2/3 innings. Espada said the team is now “starting narrowing it down when they get to Triple-A.”

Ullola was charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning on Monday but had not allowed a run in his previous five relief appearances. He has touched 97.3 mph with his fastball since moving to the bullpen, showing the velocity bump often seen in relief transitions.

The Astros will need to monitor both Brown and Allen as they continue their push to climb out of the early-season hole. Brown could return to the rotation as early as next week, while Allen’s injury status will determine his availability moving forward. The team’s next game is on Tuesday against the Athletics.