Carlos Correa

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2015
  Two years after they drafted Correa No. 1 overall out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, the Astros remain convinced they made the right choice in selecting him ahead of outfielder Byron Buxton--the No. 1 prospect in the game two years running--or college righthanders Mark Appel, Kyle Zimmer or Kevin Gausman. As a shortstop, Correa filled a void that Buxton, a center fielder, did not for Houston. He also signed for $4.8 million, which was $2.4 million less than the No. 1 overall bonus slot (and $1.3 million less than Buxton received from the Twins at No. 2 overall), savings the Astros passed on to sign draft picks such as Lance McCullers Jr. and Rio Ruiz. For an organization that was attempting a massive turnaround, Correa seemed a safer bet than Buxton. When healthy, Correa has delivered, ranking as the No. 2 prospect, behind Buxton, in the low Class A Midwest League in 2013, when he hit .320/.405/.467 in 117 games. He was off to a similarly strong start in 2014 when he broke his right fibula in late June and missed the remainder of the season at high Class A Lancaster. At 6-foot-4, Correa is one of the bigger shortstops in the game, but his lean, athletic frame is a plus, as are most of his tools. He's an average runner underway who turns in some below-average run times out of the box. He's average when it comes to turning double plays, but he has excellent instincts, a quick first step, good hands and a double-plus arm, which helps him make the play in the hole and should allow him to thrive at shortstop in the near term. He's a plus hitter with plus raw power, though his homer totals haven't shown it yet because his swing lacks loft. He's capable of hitting 30 homers in a season once he has more experience, though scouts don't believe it will happen consistently. He hits the ball hard with regularity now, and one rival evaluator likened Correa to Albert Pujols (albeit with less power) for his ability to hammer the ball to the opposite field. His makeup is off the charts, with a natural ability to lead and a goal-oriented mindset unseen in a player who just turned 20. His size and arm strength allow for speculation that he'd easily slide to third base or right field when he reaches his late 20s. Correa should be ready for spring training and was taking grounders during instructional league, though he did not play in the Arizona Fall League and will not play winter ball. The loss of half a season tempers hopes of Correa's quick rise, and he'll likely begin 2015 back at Lancaster for at least the start of the season. He might move off shortstop as he gets larger, but that won't be for four to five years at minimum. He'll play all of 2015 as a 20-year-old, eventually moving to Double-A Corpus Christi. Correa's strong character and work ethic paired with his on-field tools will make him one of the top shortstops in the majors once he arrives for good in 2016. Based on 20-80 scouting scale and future projection rather than present tools.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2014
  The Astros had several good options with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft. They could have taken Byron Buxton, considered the top position player in the draft. They could have taken one of a trio of college righthanders--Mark Appel, Kyle Zimmer or Kevin Gausman--or they could be a little more creative. By choosing Correa, the Astros were able to sign the No. 1 overall pick for $4.8 million, less than it would have taken to sign Buxton or Appel, freeing up money to sign sandwich-rounder Lance McCullers Jr. and fourth-rounder Rio Ruiz to above-slot deals. While Buxton was considered the superior prospect, Correa wasn't a signability pick. He starred at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and on the showcase circuit in 2011, and as a shortstop, he filled a glaring need in the organization in a way that Buxton, a center fielder, did not. Since signing, Correa has lived up to, and arguably exceeded, expectations. As one of the youngest players in the low Class A Midwest League in 2013, he finished third in batting (.320) and top five in on-base percentage (.405) while leading league shortstops in fielding percentage (.973) and finishing second in total chances (551). He also participated in the Futures Game, where he was the exhibition's youngest player. Correa combines exceptional tools and outstanding knowledge and feel for the game. Some scouts worry that he'll have to move to third base eventually because of his size and speed. He's an average runner at best right now and likely will slow down. At 6-foot-4 and pushing 200 pounds, he's already one of the bigger shortstops around. But others note that Correa makes all the plays expected of a front-line shortstop. He can make plays in the hole thanks in part to a 70 arm, and he also goes to his left well. Correa is more sure-handed than most young shortstops, with soft hands and a refined internal clock that lets him know when to charge a ball, when to stay back and when to put the ball in his back pocket. At the plate, he should hit for above-average power and average. He has the bat speed to rip fastballs, but his advanced pitch recognition means he also has excellent plate coverage and lays off breaking balls out of the zone. While he hangs in against righthanders, he hit .432/.523/.550 against southpaws in 111 at-bats for Quad Cities in 2013. Though he hit just nine home runs in his first full season, he has 20-25 potential. Correa is one of those rare players who could hit in the middle of the lineup while playing a solid shortstop. Even if he ends up moving to third base, he has the power to be an impact player. After posting loud numbers in 2013, he could take those numbers to a new stratosphere at the hitter's paradise that is high Class A Lancaster in 2014.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2013
  Correa is a product of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, the top finishing school on the island for prospective draft picks. The academy has produced 56 draft picks since 2004, though none has reached the major leagues yet. With a strong tour of high school showcase events in 2011, Correa vaulted himself into first-round consideration for 2012. The Miami recruit starred at Puerto Rico's Excellence Games in May and wowed clubs in workouts shortly before the draft. The Astros considered him a legitimate top-of-the-draft talent but took him No. 1 overall in part because he signed quickly for $4.8 million. His bonus set a club record though it was well below the $7.2 million assigned value for his pick, which allowed Houston to use the savings elsewhere in the draft. Correa became the highest selection ever from Puerto Rico, surpassing Ramon Castro, whom Houston took 17th overall in 1994. The Astros challenged Correa late in the summer, sending him to advanced Rookie-level Greeneville as a 17-year-old in August, and he responded well. Correa has tools worthy of a No. 1 overall pick, earning comparisons to players such as Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman. Tall and athletic, Correa has the potential to hit for power while playing the left side of the infield. His best attributes are his well above-average pop to all fields, which Houston scouting director Mike Elias describes as "freak-show power," and his cannon arm. Correa has an easy swing with plenty of bat speed and leverage. He's balanced at the plate, uses his hands well and has natural hitting rhythm, and the Astros expect him to hit for average as well as power. He impressed club officials by laying off breaking balls out of the zone after signing. At his size, he has holes in his swing that he'll have to tighten. Correa is the best present defender the organization has at shortstop. His arm strength earns 70 grades, and he has excellent footwork and body control. There's some concern he'll outgrow shortstop as he matures physically. If so, scouts expect him to be a premium defender if he has to slide to third base. He has excellent defensive instincts and work ethic, and he did nothing after signing to convince scouts he'll have to move. He lost weight this summer while playing every day for the first time, so his lanky frame should keep him at shortstop for at least the short term. Correa plays with energy, consistently producing above-average running times to first base. He's likely to slow down as he grows, and stealing bases isn't expected to be a significant part of his game. Correa got straight "A's" in high school and speaks English well. Houston has tried to temper expectations for Correa, but with his talent, work ethic and personality, it's hard not to see him becoming a star. He's advanced enough to earn a spot at the organization's new low Class A Quad Cities affiliate to start his first full pro season, and a strong performance could put him on the fast track. If all goes well, he could reach Houston as early as 2015.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #6 prospect in 2012 draft
  With the record now at 17th overall, Correa should become the highest-drafted player ever to come from Puerto Rico. He already has a big league body at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, yet he's light on his feet and shows fluid actions with a cannon for an arm. For those reasons, the team that drafts him will allow him to stay at shortstop. While he may get a little bigger, his tools would also allow him to be a premium defender at third base. Correa has garnered comparisons to both Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman. At the plate, Correa shows excellent balance and rhythm, as well as patience, to go along with exciting bat speed and natural loft. His swing can get a little long at times, leaving him exposed to quality fastballs inside, but he's learning how to make adjustments and projects to hit for average and power. Correa is a plus runner now, but he could lose a step or two as he fills out. He is one of the youngest players in the draft class and shows excellent work ethic, dedication and maturity. Correa is committed to Miami, but it would be a shock if he winds up on campus.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 2014
  Correa's season ended abruptly June 21 when he broke his right ankle and fibula sliding into third base. The injury cost him the chance at a promotion to Double-A, but presuming he returns to full health, it hasn't taken any of the shine off him. Correa has the ingredients to be an all-star shortstop, impressing Cal League observers on both sides of the ball despite being the circuit's youngest everyday position player. His modest home run total--considering Lancaster's launching-pad reputation--belies the impact in his bat. He easily drove balls out of the yard to all fields in batting practice but tended to dial it down in games, showing an inside-out swing and only gearing up for power when he got in favorable counts. Opposing managers admired Correa's ability to battle with two strikes and refusal to give away at-bats. Though he should continue to get bigger and stronger, Correa is athletic enough to stay at shortstop. He may end up an average runner, but that should be his only tool that isn't plus. His arm is strong and accurate, while he has the hands to make all the plays, no matter the degree of difficulty. "He just stood out," Lake Elsinore manager Jamie Quirk said. "When he's on the field, you know who he is, you know where he is, you know what he's doing. He is the best player on the field--offensively, defensively, arm, hands. He knows the game."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #2 prospect in 2013
  Correa?s rangy build reminds scouts of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. Those comparisons stretch beyond just a physical comparison. Like Machado, Correa has the potential to be the rare offensive force with plus power who can play on the left side of the infield either at shortstop or third base. It took Correa roughly one month to get acclimated to the MWL. After posting a sub-.800 OPS in April, he never again dipped below .850 for a month. He finished in style with a .930 August on his way to leading Quad Cities to the league title. Like Machado, Correa?s weakest tool is his speed, which is just average as an 18-year-old. Some scouts project him to eventually shift to third base because they expect he?ll lack the first-step quickness to remain at shortstop when he?s physically matured. But Correa has no problem at shortstop now, thanks to good positioning, excellent hands and a plus arm. He led MWL shortstops with a .971 fielding percentage, committing just 15 errors in 115 games.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #2 prospect in 2012
  The first Puerto Rican player ever drafted first overall, Correa signed quickly for $4.8 million. One of the youngest players in the draft, he didn't get off to a great start in the GCL, but he performed better after the Astros promoted him in mid-August. He draws physical and skill-set comparisons Manny Machado, another big-bodied shortstop with considerable offensive upside. Correa has a long, lanky build with outstanding rhythm and balance at the plate. He has a mature approach to hitting, doesn't chase pitches out of the strike zone often and uses the middle of the field. He has excellent bat speed and his swing generates loft, so he should hit for average and power. He's a plus runner who may slow down as he adds weight, so while some think he may end up at third base, he has the defensive tools to stay at shortstop and is better than Machado there. Correa's footwork is clean, his actions are smooth and his arm is another plus tool. "You can't help but notice a guy like him," Cardinals manager Steve Turco said. "He's one of those kids who just stands out regardless of how well he does statistically."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #4 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Correa is a product of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, the top finishing school on the island for prospective draft picks. The academy has produced 56 draft picks since 2004, though none has reached the major leagues yet. With a strong tour of high school showcase events in 2011, Correa vaulted himself into first-round consideration for 2012. The Miami recruit continued to thrive as a high school senior, starring at Puerto Rico's Excellence Games in May and wowing clubs in workouts shortly before the draft. The Astros considered him a legitimate top-of-the-draft talent but took him No. 1 overall in part because he signed quickly for $4.8 million. His bonus set a club record though it was well below the $7.2 million assigned value for his pick, which allowed Houston to use the savings elsewhere in the draft. Correa became the highest selection ever from Puerto Rico, surpassing Ramon Castro, whom Houston took 17th overall in 1994. The Astros challenged Correa late in the summer, sending him to advanced Rookie-level Greeneville as a 17-year-old in August, and he responded well with five extra-base hits in 11 games. Scouting Report: Correa has tools worthy of a No. 1 overall pick, earning comparisons to players such as Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman. Tall and athletic, Correa has the potential to hit for power while playing the left side of the infield. His best attributes are his well above-average pop to all fields, which Houston scouting director Mike Elias describes as "freak-show power,"and his cannon arm. Correa has an easy swing with plenty of bat speed and leverage. He's balanced at the plate, uses his hands well and has natural hitting rhythm, and the Astros expect him to hit for average as well as power. He impressed club officials by laying off breaking balls out of the zone after signing, though at his size, he has holes in his swing that he'll have to tighten. Correa is the best present defender the organization has at shortstop. His arm strength earns plus-plus grades, and he has excellent footwork and body control. There's some concern that he'll outgrow shortstop as he matures physically. If so, scouts expect him to be a premium defender if he has to slide to third base. He has excellent defensive instincts and work ethic, and he did nothing after signing to convince scouts that he'll have to move. He also lost weight this summer while playing every day for the first time, so his lanky frame should keep him at shortstop for at least the short term. Correa plays with energy, consistently producing above-average running times to first base. He's likely to slow down as he grows, though, and stealing bases isn't expected to be a significant part of his game. The Future: Houston has tried to temper expectations for Correa, but with his talent and personality, it's hard not to see him becoming the face of the franchise. He's advanced enough to earn a spot at the organization's new low Class A Quad Cities affiliate to start his first full pro season, and a strong performance could put him on the fast track. If all goes well, he could reach Houston as early as 2015. He has the power to be an all-star at any position.