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Correa makes incredible spread-eagle catch

Astros shortstop strikes Air Jordan pose in mid-air

SEATTLE -- Just when you think there's not much left that Astros shortstop Carlos Correa can do to amaze us, the rookie sensation comes up with another trick.

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Correa made one of the best catches of the season in the sixth inning of the Astros' 6-3 loss to the Mariners at Safeco Field on Saturday night when he leaped high into the air to catch a Mike Zunino line drive. Correa nearly did the splits in mid-air after catching the ball.

"Honestly, I thought I'd have a chance," Correa said. "I just jumped just right to try to reach for it and, you know, by the time I caught it, when I looked at the video I was like 'Wow that was a good play.' Honestly I didn't think I was going to catch it. I just jumped and tried. Just ended up making a great play. Definitely one of the best plays I made so far."

Astros manager A.J. Hinch had been ejected earlier in the inning, but he saw the play while watching TV in the visiting manager's office.

"A terrific catch, as athletic as they get," he said. "He's a pretty gifted athlete. He's playing with a lot of energy and making great plays."

Correa, who stands 6-4, was asked if he could have jumped any higher.

"I don't know," he said. "I think that was as high as I needed to go that time."

Astros fans on Twitter were making a correlation between Correa's pose in mid-air and the famous Air Jordan logo, which depicted NBA superstar Michael Jordan soaring for a dunk with his legs spread apart.

Tweet from @EvanDrellich: Carlos Correa just made an insane leaping catch. Shouldn't have caught it. Full extension, legs split, Air Jordan style as he comes down.

"It was a great play," he said. "I enjoyed that moment. I wish we could have won the game. It would have been a lot better."

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Houston Astros, Carlos Correa