Correa prepared, undergoes first spring workout

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Shortstop Carlos Correa, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, hit the field Saturday in Kissimmee for his first official workout of Spring Training. He's one of 20 players taking part in a Minor League minicamp.

"I feel really good," said Correa, ranked by MLB.com as the Astros' No. 2 prospect. "I prepared myself in the offseason. I feel like I'm in my best shape physically and mentally, and I feel prepared for this season. I'm starting to know what I'm facing now after going through my first year. Now I'm starting to know how it works, so I feel really prepared."

Correa, 18, got off to a slow start when he made his professional debut last year but rallied to hit .232 with two homers, five stolen bases and nine RBIs in 39 games for the Gulf Coast League Astros. He finished the year with Greeneville of the Appalachian League and hit .371 in 11 games.

The question now is whether Correa will begin the year at a full-season club or stay at extended spring training and join a short-season club. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa's goal is to start at Class A Quad Cities, but that might be too aggressive.

"High school kids out of the Draft should probably start in extended for a month or so because it's a good opportunity for them to really get going before they hit a full-season club," he said. "We're going to be very cautious with him and see. We also have a lot of players from last year's Draft we feel are ready to move to that level."

Luhnow said Correa, who will probably be in big league camp next year, will likely get some at-bats in Major League Spring Training games this year.

"I'd like to get him that exposure," he said. "I think it's good for him to get a taste of it and let him come in and be the extra guy and get a couple of pinch-hits. That's a good experience for a young player."