The Carlos Correa era for the Houston Astros will have to wait a bit longer after the top prospect, along with seven other players, were reassigned to minor-league camp.
Correa, age 20, was the first pick in the 2012 amateur draft. He is arguably the best prospect in baseball right now and is expected to be the Astros' long-term answer at shortstop whenever he breaks into the majors.
"I can taste it. I feel really close. I feel like I had a great camp," Correa told Associated Press. "I did pretty well out there. It's just baseball. It gets better every level you go up."
Correa had a .341 batting average with two home runs in 18 spring games, a performance that could show the prospective shortstop is ready to get the call to the Astros at some point in the 2015 season.
Matt Dominguez, who spent two seasons as Houston's regular third baseman was also among the eight players cut by the Astros in the twilight of spring training. Luis Valbuena, acquired in a January trade from the Chicago Cubs, is expected to be the Astros' starting third baseman on Opening Day.
"We're cutting into some flesh now with guys competing pretty hard for our team," manager A.J. Hinch said. "No one that has now been cut has been more involved with the Astros at the major league level than Matt Dominguez. He was disappointed, rightfully so."
The Astros will open the season at Minute Maid Park in Houston on April 6 against the Cleveland Indians.
Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey
