Yeah, the Astros challenged him by sending him to high A very quickly, and he's responding. He'll likely start in CC next year, and you are basically MLB ready once you succeed there. It will be interesting to see how much longer they keep him in the infield. Moving Correa to 3rd simply doesn't seem logical given what we've seen and Altuve while down from last year, is also having a good year. The Astros could really use another contact bat in the lineup. Even if Bregman isn't the prototype power guy you want in LF, I could see it working given how much power we have elsewhere.
Correa will fill out though...with his frame and his potential size, he'll be more suited for 3rd (Specially if Bregman is a very good SS). As of now, Correa is a stud at SS, and should stay there...but my guess is that SS wont be his final position.
Down the line I agree. Much like Ripken and A-Rod he could move to 3rd an excel, but as you said he is proven and should stay at SS for now. It could be a decade before a move to 3rd becomes necessary, if ever. Bregman needs a place to play, quite possibly next season. If we keep him, staying at SS or 2B doesn't seem likely. He doesn't have the arm for 3rd, he may not have the arm for LF either, but it hurts you much less out there, and his above average speed should provide enough range to make him adequate out there with practice. If he can translate those OBP skills to the show, we have to find a place for him becasue we are in desperate need for contact/OBP
I may be crazy but didn't someone mention they could look at Bregman at Catcher in the offseason or am I thinking of someone else. He seems like a guy that can literally play anywhere with his baseball instincts, work ethic, and savvy but not sure catcher would be ideal for him. I am not going to annoint him yet but if he does succeed at AA next year then we have ourselves a huge asset if he plays an above average SS. He might be more valuable in a trade than a position switch and/or Correa to 3rd and Bregman at SS or vice versa. I remember when the Rangers brought up Juricson Profar to play spot minutes at 2nd and SS. Michael Young was fading then but Profar never really showed much and didn't get much consistent playing time. They pretty much considered him untouchable at the time but could have picked any elite pitcher on the market and traded for him but resisted. Look how that turned out. A SS prospect is a beautiful thing if you use it correctly. I trust Luhnow to make the right choice if Bregman proves to be future Major Leaguer.
If Jed has the arm for 3rd then Bregman definitely has the arm for 3rd. But as people said it is a moot point because Correa eventually will move off. Bregman is going to be an OBP machine up here. Won't slug much (some doubles here and there) but should put up consistent .360 OBP seasons to give around him a .750 OPS. That combined with a plus defender at SS and you have a very good player.
After seeing what he has done this season at shortstop, why are people still assuming he will eventually move to 3B?
If Bregman is great defensively he will play ss and correa move to 3b. Then Moran and Reed will battle who plays 1b. Also Singleton is still there in Tehran mix. Now, I don't think Bregman will play in the majors for at least 2 more years.
The good defense part is no guarantee. He needs to either walk a lot or show double power if he is going to be worthy of a top 2 pick. Right now he has no power at all.
Maybe 7-8 years from now. Unless he gets injured, there is no reason he cannot play short until close to 30 or later. A-Rod moved from short to third base because Jeter was at short. Indeed, A-Rod was possibly the best defensive shortstop in the league at the time he moved to third. Cal Ripken played shortstop for a very long time. I don't really think the move to third for Correa should be a consideration in any moves we make. It very well could be 10 years before he moves to third.
If he is able To play very good defense, hit for average and a great obp, leading off, that is exactly what we need. 1. Bregman ss 2. Altuve 2b 3. Correa 3b 4. Springer rf 5. Tucker Lf 6. Reed 1b 7. Gattis dh 8. Castro c 9. Marisnick cf
I agree with you but is Bregman is the real deal, and we still don't know, the move will happen sooner than later. But then again, what a great problem to have. There is so much talent in the minors that big leaguers must improve because they don't have a secured spot if they continue to struggle examples Gattis, valbuena, marisnick, Carter.
I'm not so certain Correa is going to get considerably bigger, either. The guy is swoll as hell right NOW. And he still moves really well with that mass.
I'm guessing Luhnow has a bit of Morey in him. bregmans highest asset value is as a shortstop. He can be dealt or moved to another position. Hardly impossible that Altuve could be moved it Bregman is better.
