MLB Draft 2012: Astros Win by Selecting Fastest Rising Star in Carlos Correa

There no such thing as a sure thing in the MLB draft, but the Astros came the closest to getting one on Monday, when they made Carlos Correa the first overall pick. 

The shortstop out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy made history as the only Puerto Rican to ever go No. 1 in the draft, and the honor is rightfully deserved: There were very few players on this year's board that had the X-factor that indicates a sure-fire future star, and Correa is one of them. 

It's ridiculous to say Correa is going to change the course of history for the Astros. It takes years and years of near-perfect drafting and decision-making to accomplish that. But the selection of Correa is certainly a good sign for a team that currently resides in fourth place in the NL Central, hasn't made the playoffs since a World Series trip in 2005 and has only won the NL pennant once. 

For one thing, Correa is one of the only shortstops available this year who projects as a lock to remain at the position. More importantly, though, he's one of the rare players in the MLB draft who has the wow-factor that indicates a star. 

It's uncommon to find a shortstop who can be a potential Gold Glove winner as well as an offensive superstar, but Correa can do it. The 6'4", 190-pounder could hit somewhere between 20 and 30 home runs per year once he makes it to the bigs, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Correa is already above average in terms of his range and his arm, according to MLB.com, and he projects to be a power hitter with excellent base-running instincts. 

The icing on the cake, though, is the fact that after going No. 1, there's virtually no chance he's not going to sign and forfeit his commitment to the University of Miami: According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggert, Correa will be in Houston on Thursday and will soon thereafter finalize his deal with the team, which could earn him a $7.2 million bonus. 

Astros GM Jeff Lunhow told McTaggart:

"

We're going to bring him in here on Thursday, and you guys [the media] are going to get a chance to meet him and we're going to get a chance to sit down and talk with him and his family, and hopefully that will move quickly at that point. 

"

After signing, Correa is likely to join extended spring camp in Kissimmee, FL, before moving on to join the Gulf Coast League Astros. And then, a star will be born. A few years down the line, we could have a new Derek Jeter on our hands.

If anyone from this draft is going to be the next Jeter, it's Correa. 

There's been Roberto Clemente and Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. 

Now, there will be Carlos Correa.