The wait is over, Astros fans.
Houston Astros top prospect Carlos Correa is heading to major-league ball club as the 20-year-old shortstop will join the team Monday in Chicago in time for the opener against the White Sox.
"[Correa] has performed extremely well at every level of our minor league system," Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said in a statement release by the team. "We feel he has earned this promotion and look forward to him joining our ball club. Since he is just 20 years old, we do not have unrealistic expectations of Carlos. However, his performance on the field and his maturity indicate that he is ready to contribute on the Major League level."
Correa, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com, has hit .335 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 53 games this season combined with Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi this season. At the time of his callup, Correa led all of minor-league baseball in extra-base hits (34) and total bases (127).
Sunday, the Astros dropped their fourth-straight game -- their longest losing streak of the season -- in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, but still are maintaining their lead in the AL West by 3.5 games. According to Luhnow, Correa gives the Astros a better chance keeping winning this season.
"We really feel like he can help our club right now win ballgames," Luhnow said according to the Houston Chronicle. "We've scuffled a little bit in these last few days, and we feel like Carlos gives us the best chance to win... We want to keep our division and we want to win this division. We think he's a big part of what we can do."
While it is hard to ignore a player playing at the level Correa has in the minors, the Astros have struggled to find production out of the shortstop position since Jed Lowrie landed on the 60-day disabled list in late April. Houston manager A.J. Hinch is confident Correa will be able to handle the job.
"Carlos is a talented player," Hinch said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "It will be great to add him to our group. He is more than equipped to handle the responsibility. We look forward to having him on our club."
With the promotion of Correa, he will be the third member of the Astros' 2012 draft class to reach the majors in just over a month. Outfielder Preston Tucker and starting pitcher Lance McCullers preceded him. Correa was the first overall pick in the 2012 draft coming out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy at the age of 17.
Correa, who said "he couldn't believe it" when he was told he would be heading to the big leagues, overall is just hoping he can help the Astros stay on top of the division to end a 10-year playoff drought for Houston.
"I'm going to go out there now and play for the Houston Astros and help them win some games and stay at the top of their division," Correa said according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston. "It's something I've worked for my entire life to get to this point. Now that my dream has come true, just go out and play baseball."
Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey
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