Houston Astros call up 2012 No. 1 pick Carlos Correa
The Houston Astros have called up top prospect Carlos Correa, the team announced Sunday.
Correa, 20, was the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft and is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball by MLB.com. In a corresponding roster move, Houston optioned righthander Jake Buchanan to Triple-A Fresno.
Correa was batting .325 in High-A last season when a broken leg ended his season in June. He started this season in Double-A, where he batted .385 with seven home runs and 15 doubles in 29 games. He was promoted to Triple-A on May 11 and batted .266 in 23 games.
Future is now for Astros with call-up of former No. 1 pick Carlos Correa
Jed Lowrie, who entered the season as Houston's starting shortstop, underwent thumb surgery in April and is out until after the All-Star break. Marwin Gonzalez has started at short in Lowrie's absence and is batting .227 with a .586 OPS.
Houston will also call up righthanded pitcher Vincent Velasquez, MLB.com reports.
The 23-year old Velasquez, the team's second-round pick in 2010, went 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA in five starts at Double-A Corpus Christi and will join the team in Chicago on Monday. He is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
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Wednesday's scheduled starter Roberto Hernandez will move to the bullpen. Hernandez has a 2-5 record with a 5.18 ERA in 11 starts this season.
The Astros (34-24) have the second-best record in the American League and lead the AL West by 3.5 games over the Texas Rangers.
- Dan Gartland and Scooby Axson
