Carlos Correa to Houston Astros: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

Position: SS

Height/Weight: 6’3”/190 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 9/22/1994

High School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (Puerto Rico)

College Commitment: Miami

The top position prospect in the 2012 draft class outside of Byron Buxton, the 17-year-old Correa possesses a highly projectable frame and an assortment of electrifying tools.

His plus arm may be his most noticeable tool, as he was clocked at 97 mph across the infield at the Perfect Game World Showcase. However, Correa isn’t all arm strength; he has smooth actions on the infield with above-average range and true instincts.

At the dish, Correa, a right-handed hitter, has raw power in all directions thanks to plus bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination. However, he’ll need to improve his weight transfer upon entering professional baseball, as he retains too much weight on his backside after contact rather than employing a high-pivot finish to drive the baseball. But that’s something that can be easily ironed out with a big league hitting coach.

Correa has drawn comparisons to Alex Rodriguez given his background, frame and tools, which, for the most part, is fairly accurate. A-Rod was more polished at the time he was drafted, but Correa doesn’t lag too far behind. If his development goes as expected, he could be ready to make an impact in the major leagues by 2016.

Pick Analysis

The Astros pull off a bit of a surprise, drafting the Puerto Rican shortstop instead of Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel, who most pundits had predicted would be Houston's guy. Purely speculating, this may mean the Astros are thinking about a rebuilding plan that could last between five to seven years, not two to three, as Appel was the more MLB-ready prospect.