Correa makes fan's birthday special before celebrating his own
Houston Astros phenom Carlos Correa can no longer be referred to using the phrase '20-year-old', as he celebrates his 21st birthday on Tuesday.
Correa, still one of the youngest players in the game making an undeniable impact on his club, told Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle that he doesn't really think of the birthday as anything special...but he still has plans nonetheless.
“I’m going to celebrate it with my family,” Correa told Ortiz. “To me it’s just another year. The fact that this is my first year in the big leagues it makes it more interesting. I’ll see what surprises my birthday brings me. I'll wait to see what surprises are ahead."
It seems inevitable that his Astros teammates will do something to shower him with attention for his birthday, considering all he does for them. Recently, he made special t-shirts for the whole team paying tribute to his 'Showrrea' nickname, and he seems to be very well-liked throughout the organization.
#Astros SS @TeamCJCorrea wearing new #ClubAstros shirt as he talks about tonight's big win. pic.twitter.com/eMJovfcDd4
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 22, 2015
Not only that, Correa also took time out on Monday before the game to visit with Neil, an Astros fan with a brain tumor whom he met earlier this season at Minute Maid Park. September 21 is Neil's birthday, so Correa surprised him at his school for a birthday treat:
Thank you to @TeamCJCorrea for coming to Houston Christian for Neil Kerrigan's birthday! pic.twitter.com/FKq97zTevi
— Houston Christian (@HCHSAthletics) September 21, 2015
Correa told MLB.com's Alyson Footer that this kind of gesture means the world to him: "I came from nothing," Correa said. "I came from working my way to where I am. I know how it feels when there's someone you admire do those kinds of things for you. Every time I can put a smile on a kid's face it means a lot to me. That's what I will work for the rest of my career, to be a good player and a good citizen as well."
Correa went a step further and wrote Neil's name on his cleats as a tribute:
I stand up for Neil! My spikes for tonight and birthday present for @KerriganNeil #Inspiration #courage pic.twitter.com/6qu3NY3rHN
— Carlos Correa (@TeamCJCorrea) September 21, 2015
As for his on-field exploits, Correa also hit a big home run in the Astros' 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, a victory that pulled Houston to within a game of the first-place Texas Rangers and improved their record to 80-71.
(h/t Houston Chronicle, MLB.com)
