Hector Correa
| IP | 311 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.109 |
| WHIP | 1.357 |
| BB/9 | 3.502 |
| SO/9 | 9.289 |
- Full name Hector J. Correa
- Born 03/18/1988 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Lorenzo Coballes Gandia
-
Drafted in the 4th round (125th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2006 (signed for $252,000).
View Draft Report
Righthander Hector Correa could be drafted before Velazquez based on a better present package. He also needs to improve his strength and stamina. Correa's arm works well, generating a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, and he projects to throw harder as he matures. His secondary stuff has a long ways to go. His loopy curveball is a below-average offering, and he'll likely scrap it in favor of a slider.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Correa showed a strong arm in the lower levels of the Marlins system, but he had shoulder issues that cost him the entire 2009 season and he couldn't make it past low Class A. The Giants hadn't forgotten their strong reports from the days when he was hitting 95 mph from a loose, easy delivery, so they turned a roster crunch into a positive in the spring of 2010. San Francisco sent Jack Taschner to the Pirates for Ronny Paulino, then flipped Paulino to Florida for Correa. It took awhile, but Correa's shoulder came around in 2011 and he was back to punching tickets on two levels. He flashes mid-90s velocity while sitting at 91-92 mph with his fastball. He also sells a plus changeup that overwhelmed Class A hitters, whom he limited to a .141 average before a midseason promotion to Double-A, where he also fared well. His slider is a below-average offering, but he has gotten by with his other two pitches and ability to throw strikes. Correa is a good athlete with a lean, strong frame and plus makeup. He averaged nearly two innings per appearance last year, and because his changeup makes him so effective against lefthanders, the Giants may look to stretch him out as a starter. They protected him on their 40-man roster this offseason. -
Correa ranked right behind Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez at No. 13 on this list a year ago, but he mistakenly tried to extend that momentum by pitching through a shoulder problem that wound up costing him four months of mound time in 2008. His rehab path was bumpy at times, though for the most part he showed the necessary discipline. Team officials believe he learned his lesson after trying to conceal an injury. Correa managed to get return for a fall minicamp and showed only slightly diminished velocity. Instead of humming fastballs at 91-94 mph and touching 95 mph like he had in 2007, he worked mostly at 90-92. He has a low-80s slider that shows good bite, but he remains more comfortable using a changeup that shows excellent action. The shoulder problems came as a surprise because he has a loose arm and smooth, easily repeatable delivery, which allows him to throw strikes. His frame is lean and projectable. He's a good athlete with plus makeup. Correa will open his third straight season in low Class A, with hopes of finally advancing in 2009. -
Fast-tracking a pitcher can work to his advantage or mess him up for years to come. The way Correa handled the beating he took after getting jumped to low Class A to begin his first full pro season says a lot about him and his future. Demoted to short-season Jamestown after eight painful starts for Greensboro, he took off and finished second in the New York-Penn League with 83 strikeouts in just 59 innings. Correa has a clean delivery, a loose arm and a lean, projectable frame. His fastball sits at 91-94 mph and touches 95 mph, though command can be an issue. The Marlins took away his curve and gave him a power slider, one reason he struggled at Greensboro. As he got more comfortable with the slider, he was able to keep it tight in the low 80s and sometimes threw it as hard as 85 mph. At this point, he has more confidence in his changeup, which has excellent action. Pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal required him to throw at least 10-15 sliders in every outing at Florida's fall minicamp in an effort to sharpen the pitch even further. Correa needs to hold runners better, but he's a good athlete with outstanding makeup and a pleasant personality. He should get another crack at low Class A to start 2008.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
Correa impressed in his U.S. debut last summer in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, so the Marlins jumped the 19-year-old to the South Atlantic League to start 2007. He was hit hard in low Class A but was simply dominating after his demotion to Jamestown, finishing second in the league with 83 strikeouts despite throwing just 59 innings. Correa has a pretty clean delivery, a loose arm, and a tall, lean frame that still has some projection. He pitches at 92-94 mph with his fastball and touches 95, but he needs to improve his fastball command. He tends to pitch backwards at times, using his hard, tight slider and outstanding changeup early in counts, and he could benefit from attacking hitters more with his fastball.
