<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A day in the life. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeToTheShow?src=hash">#WelcomeToTheShow</a> <a href="http://t.co/6W2A5FjpRr">pic.twitter.com/6W2A5FjpRr</a></p>— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBGIFs/status/608074003350036480">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carlos Correa is flying on adrenaline tonight. Said he got 2-3 hours sleep last night before flight to Chicago. Didn't need rain delay.</p>— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/philgrogers/status/608074483098886144">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carlos Correa's first MLB hit and RBI on a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hustle?src=hash">#Hustle</a> infield single! Watch: <a href="http://t.co/qVkyPqgiFn">http://t.co/qVkyPqgiFn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="http://t.co/b8z0Y6ZZUG">pic.twitter.com/b8z0Y6ZZUG</a></p>— #VoteAstros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/608098909114634240">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yeah, no first-game jitters for Carlos Correa. <a href="http://t.co/trRQu4ab3I">http://t.co/trRQu4ab3I</a> <a href="http://t.co/R4WlMzY25X">pic.twitter.com/R4WlMzY25X</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/608118213134532608">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I know it is an extremely small sample size, but after comparing a few ABs of Byron Buxton to Correa, I don't see how Buxton was ever considered a better prospect than Correa. Unless things were drastically different in the minors, Buxton still seems like an extremely raw player compared to Correa, while being a year older and playing a lesser or equal premium position. What am I missing?
They were viewed very similarly is basically all respects, except Buxton also had super elite speed, which was the primary reason he was viewed so highly. Correa has just advanced much quicker as a hitter.
Time for what? I'm asking how Buxton, being a year older and being at a position of equal or lesser value, was considered the better prospect? Time will tell who will have the better overall career, I agree, but IMO Correa's age/tools/makeup all seem on par or better which would seemingly make him the better prospect, no? Anyway, maybe this is a disguised gloating post that really says the Stros were right in 2012.
Time as in......AT that MOMENT! I think you have seen a guy who is a natural put the work/ability together and is starting to show out. I love his plate awareness. Between him and Springer, they make pitchers throw them good pitches.
Buxton and Correa were generally 1-2 or 2-1 among prospects. Buxton had good minor league numbers which were on par with Correa's. Buxton was never a noticeably better prospect in anyone's eyes.
If they had to do a mid-season re-ranking, Correa would be ahead of him. But prior to this year, their minor league numbers were pretty similar... and Correa was coming off the broken leg. Correa has clearly taken his game to another level this year... which led to his earlier than expected promotion (remember, most weren't expecting him up till late 2015/early 2016). What is interesting is if the Twins felt pressure to promote Buxton now since Correa was called up.... but I'm always for sink/swim approach when it comes to these guys, so not going to fault them (plus, what Correa is doing now is pretty damn rare... he's possibly just that "special").
Some tools are more projectable than others and speed is one of them. Buxton has elite speed, and that is why he was viewed as a better prospect. But as bobrek said, it isn't as if he was head and shoulders above Correa. While I love Correa, and wouldn't trade him for anything, lets not be so quick to start gloating, Buxton could still end up the better player long term. I don't expect that to happen, but it is a possibility.
Excerpt from Fangraphs article... Of course, the early days of Carlos Correa have been about more than one swing. Since he debuted, 62 players have hit at least 20 batted balls, as captured by Statcast. Correa ranks ninth in average batted-ball speed, between Mike Trout and George Springer. Considered differently, over a small sample, Correa has hit 57% of his batted balls at least 100 miles per hour. Here are the full-season leaders, with a minimum of 100 batted balls tracked: •Giancarlo Stanton, 53% •Joc Pederson, 42% •Miguel Cabrera, 41% •Jose Abreu, 41% •Robinson Cano, 40% As early as it is, it’s not unreasonable to wonder whether Correa might already be the American League’s best shortstop. Here's the link for full article with nice clip of homer yesterday...http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-watch-carlos-correa-do-something-amazing/
Certainly not unreasonable. He has Reyes, Bogaerts, and Andrus to compete with I guess? I certainly wouldn't feel like a homer saying he is better than those guys right now.
So true I wouldn't trade Correa for no player right now. That is saying a lot considering he is a rookie and only 20 years old...But darn it he is already so damn good...Imagine when he actually reaches his prime. Now I know how the Chicago Bulls fans felt when they had a young MJ in '84. You know he is a special prospect/player but you want to play it cool and enjoy it
I take it a step further. George Springer can be his Scottie Pippen. I know this is Baseball more of a team sport, but you just can't help it and gush about the potential the team has in the long run if not sooner....
Of the 18 AL SSs with at least 100 PAs, 13 have a sub-.700 OPS, including 9 who are sub.-600. It would not have been silly to consider him the best SS in the AL on the day of his call-up.
I forgot who it was...I was listening to 610 on the drive to work the day he got called up. They were interviewing some baseball writer and he had declared Correa the best SS in the league before his first AB.
