WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was not in attendance for Houston's trip to the White House in celebration of its 2017 World Series championship on Monday. Instead, he was helping gather supplies to aid the hurricane relief effort in Puerto Rico.
Correa, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, helped send an airplane carrying resources to his home country, which was damaged by Hurricane Maria in September and is still recovering.
"I don't only represent the Houston Astros, I don't only represent my family, but I also represent the American citizens that are living in Puerto Rico," Correa told reporters Tuesday. "I just want to bring some awareness to what is going on."
The 2015 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner said his work to help those in need in Puerto Rico will continue into the regular season.
Correa's family, fiancee Daniella Rodriguez and Astros owner Jim Crane helped the young star finalize the next shipment, which is scheduled to leave South Florida before the end of Spring Training, according to the Associated Press.

Correa and closer Ken Giles were the two members of the Astros who did not make the trip to Washington, D.C., to honor the club's title. Giles had a family commitment.
"It was not politics or anything," Correa said. "It was just that the day off was perfect to be able to provide some help for the people in Puerto Rico in need.
"I didn't think it was right for me to go and talk to the president about Puerto Rico when we were going there for the team, for the amazing year we had and for what we brought to the city of Houston," Correa added. "It's an honor to be invited to the White House. I want to thank the president for all the help he provided to my second hometown, which is Houston, and some of the help he's provided to Puerto Rico, but we're still in need in Puerto Rico."

Correa was named to the AL All-Star team for the first time in 2017 while batting .315/.391/.550 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 109 games. He was key to the Astros' title run, clubbing five homers and driving in 14 runs throughout the postseason.
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A star on the diamond, the 23-year-old can also see the impact he is making off it.
"For me there is nothing better than getting phone calls from the people in my hometown thanking me, getting videos from the people in my hometown thanking me for all the help I've been providing," Correa said.