Astros Select SS Carlos Correa with first-overall pick in 2012 MLB Draft

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have selected shortstop Carlos Correa with the first pick in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Astros Assistant General Manager/Director of Scouting Bobby Heck announced tonight.

Correa, 17, played amateur baseball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in Gurabo, P.R. The 6-foot-4 shortstop is the highest-drafted player ever out of Puerto Rico. That label was held by catcher Ramon Castro, who was picked 17th overall by Houston in 1994. Correa was named a Rawlings First Team All-American this season, in his final year at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

“I feel so excited to be the number one pick. I just worked hard to be here,” said Correa, who was one of a select group of amateur players at the MLB Network Studio in Secaucas, NJ, tonight. “I feel proud to be here and I’m excited.”

Correa is the first shortstop taken first overall since 2008 (Tim Beckham-TB), and is just the fourth shortstop taken first overall since 1994. Other notable players who were selected as shortstops with the first overall pick were Shawon Dunston (1982-CHC), B.J. Surhoff (1985-MIL), Chipper Jones (1990-ATL), Alex Rodriguez (1993-SEA) and Justin Upton (2005-ARI).

ABOUT THE FIRST PICK

CARLOS CORREA

Position: Shortstop

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Height/Weight: 6-4/190

Age: 17

High School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Gurabo, P.R.

The Astros will have an additional selection tonight in the supplemental first round (41st selection overall). Tonight’s portion of the draft included only the first round out of a scheduled 40, and will resume tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. CT. Rounds 2-15 are scheduled for tomorrow and the draft will conclude with the final 25 rounds on Wednesday, June 6.

ASTROS DRAFTS BY POSITION:  Through 2011, the Astros have selected with their first pick: 19 pitchers, 12 infielders, eight catchers and eight outfielders.

PICKING FIRST OVERALL: 2012 will mark the third time that the Astros have had the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. The previous two times were in 1992 (IF Phil Nevin) and 1976 (LHP Floyd Bannister). Houston has had the second overall pick once in their history, which came in 1969 (RHP J.R. Richard).

LUHNOW AND THE DRAFT:  Prior to being named the Astros General Manager in December, Jeff Luhnow had success overseeing several drafts while with the St. Louis Cardinals. Luhnow, who last served as the Cardinals vice president of scouting and player development, produced 24 Major League players in his first three drafts (2005-07), which were more than any other club in that time frame. From 2006-10, the Cardinals organization won five minor league championships and had the best combined system record in baseball in 2010. In 2011, the Cardinals were named Organization of the Year by Baseball America.

ASTROS FIRST ROUNDER UPDATE:  2011 first-round pick George Springer (OF) is currently hitting .291 at Class A Lancaster with 10 home runs and 40 RBI, the latter of which ranks T-5th in the California League...2010 first-rounder Delino DeShields (IF) leads the South Atlantic League in stolen bases with 36 in 53 games at Class A Lexington...2009 first-rounder Jiovanni Mier (IF) was hitting .309 in 26 games at Lancaster before being sidelined with a hamstring injury...2008 first-rounder Jason Castro is the Astros starting catcher in the Major Leagues...Castro was Heck’s first draft pick after joining the Astros.