MLB Draft 2012: Top Pick Carlos Correa Will Emerge Sooner Rather Than Later

The Houston Astros shocked mock draft makers around the world by picking Carlos Correa with their first overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, but it will prove to be the right decision because he'll need less time to become a true MLB player. 

Correa is just 17 years old, but possesses a surprisingly big 6'4" frame despite not even being able to buy his own tobacco products and lottery tickets. He was set to play next season at the University of Miami, but he may very well contemplate skipping out on college altogether after this shocking No. 1 overall pick. 

Despite Correa being just a 17-year-old and not having played much baseball in the continental U.S., he'll still be able to get to the big leagues as quickly as any of his counterparts.

He'll be able to do so in large part because of his physical stature, which is practically ready for major league ball. He'll obviously need to spend a year or two at the very least in the farm system, but he shouldn't take as long as the average player by any means.

Correa's bread and butter is his power hitting, which combined with his size has drawn parallels with the likes of Alex Rodriguez. 

But he's incredibly light on his feet for a 6'4" fielder and has an incredible arm. He'll not only become one of the best power hitters at shortstop in the league, but he'll be making web gems on a weekly basis. 

The last time the Astros were in this position with the top overall pick was in 1992, when they selected Phil Nevin, and passed on Derek Jeter. Jeter went five picks later, and he continues to show the rest of the MLB today what Houston missed out on. 

Houston wasn't going to make that same mistake again, which is why they went with the high-ceiling player in Carlos Correa instead of one of many top pitchers that they could've undoubtedly used.  

Correa was expected by many to become the highest drafted Puerto Rican in MLB history, but that's only because he'd need to go in the top 17 picks for that to happen. I think it's safe to say he cleared that record by a decent margin.

The Astros took a little bit of a risk with Correa, considering the type of pitching they could've landed with players like Kyle Zimmer or Mark Appel. But it will pay off in time, and the Astros will be glad they didn't pass on what could be the next Jeter.