Grizzlies: Shorstop Carlos Correa appears ready for big-league launch

The clock keeps ticking on the Carlos Correa watch.

No one’s quite sure when it’ll go off and Correa departs.

They just know it’s coming soon and his goodbye will be abrupt.

Some day perhaps soon, the shortstop will be summoned by the parent club Houston Astros. The five-tool gem of the Astros farm system, Correa is arguably the most revered prospect to suit up for the Fresno Grizzlies.

The 20-year-old already has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s recent top shortstops.

Like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

“I’ve been around a lot of great players; Carlos probably is at the top of the list right now,” Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “Very mature for a 20-year-old. He understands the game; he’s in tune with what’s going on on the field.

“I think he’s going to be one of the top players for a long time.”

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft, Correa demolished Double-A pitching in 29 games to earn earn a promotion to the Grizzlies. At the time of departure, he was leading the Texas League in every major offensive category, batting .385 with seven homers, 25 runs, 32 RBIs and 15 steals.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Correa already has shown a strong grip on Triple-A pitching. In his first 10 games, the right-handed hitter from Puerto Rico recorded a hit in all but two for a .318 average with two homers, 12 runs and seven RBIs.

Among his home runs was a two-run shot Thursday — Correa’s first game in Fresno — over the center-field wall against 2002 Cy Young winner Barry Zito of Nashville.

Correa also has not committed an error and stole three three bases in four attempts, including two Friday after he was walked on each of his first three plate appearances.

“He’s the real deal,” a major league scout said under the conditions of anonymity. “The game seems to come easy for him.”

Correa said he wants to put pressure on the Astros to call him up — four other first-round picks from his draft class already have reached the majors — but added he’s not frustrated at the process.

“I’ve just got to be patient,” said Correa, who grew up speaking Spanish then taught himself English. “The only thing I can control is to play baseball to the best of my abilities. Go out there and put up some numbers.

“The Astros and the front office are going to be making the decisions. And when they do, I will be really happy to get that call and help the Astros keep winning.”

His career in the minors helped him with that mind-set, Correa said. Two years ago, he excelled in lower Class-A (.320, 9 HRs, 86 RBIs) but didn’t move up in the minors. Last June, Correa broke his right leg sliding into third base.

“I’ve worked on that a lot,” Correa said of his patience. “It’s not when I think it’s right. It’s when they think it’s right.

“I will just enjoy every single day out here.”

Astros General Manager Jeff Lunhow was expected to attend the Grizzlies games this weekend in part to evaluate Correa in person. He has previously said it takes a minimum of two weeks to evaluate a player in the minors, according to an interview with The Houston Chronicle when he discussed other prospects, such as current Astros outfielder George Springer.

Adhering to such a timeline could mean Correa suiting up for the Grizzlies a final time Tuesday after a total of six games at Chukchansi Park (Correa made his Triple-A debut May 12, playing his first eight games on the road).

Waiting to promote Correa until mid-June, though, could save the Astros millions of dollars by not having to pay him Super Two status, which gives a player an extra year of arbitration salary (market-rate salary).

DeFrancesco pointed out a factor that’s perhaps even more important: “One thing you don’t want is for Carlos to go up to the big leagues and fail, then have to come back. You hope when he goes up, he stays there for 15, 20 years and heads to the Hall of Fame.

“We want to make sure that when he’s ready to go, he has a lot of confidence and is ready to stay.”

DeFrancesco said he’d like to see more selectiveness from Correa at the plate, quicker adjustments to the offspeed pitches in Triple-A and continued hard hitting against fastballs that clock in the mid-90s.

“The biggest advice I’ve gotten is to don’t put any pressure on myself,” Correa said. “Play the game the right way and my talent will take care of everything.

“I’ve been having a lot of fun out here.”

This story was originally published May 23, 2015 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Grizzlies: Shorstop Carlos Correa appears ready for big-league launch."