SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) Carlos Correa climbed to straight into his pants pocket as he strolled towards the podium, ripped in two out a tiny Puerto Rican banner in addition to waved the idea for the cheering crowd.
The 17-year-old slugging shortstop had simply just manufactured local historical past at the baseball draft, and also the Houston Astros hope it's simply the particular start off of numerous huge events for any very first No. one particular overall select from Puerto Rico.
''I appeared to be really surprised,'' Correa said Monday nighttime for the draft web-site during MLB Network studios. ''I had been like, 'Is it your desire or could it be true?'''
Yep, it all actually happened. The handshake in addition to hug from Commissioner Bud Selig. The significant smiles from the Astros cover as well as jersey. The delight of the region that has made it has the share of snowboarding royalty.
''This means a new lot,'' Correa said. ''We've acquired a great deal of excellent gamers there.''
And a great deal include arrive out of there, too: from Roberto Clemente and Ivan Rodriguez to Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. While some of the people signed as free of charge agents, nothing provides ever previously been the top end choose in the draft. Catcher Ramon Castro were being your highest-drafted participant away from Puerto Rico, going No. 17 in order to Houston around 1994.
Correa ended up being probably personal training people inside work at the draft, but his / her introduction ended up being far from probably the most entertaining. Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins did a backflip - once being prodded simply by your telly reporter when a online video media appeared to be found of him landing a single - a number of events after going No. 13 towards Chicago White Sox.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hawkins, sporting a White Sox covering as well as jersey, spoken for you to common office manager Kenny Williams right after they stuck his landing.
''They said, 'Go do it,' therefore I attended in addition to did it,'' a new beaming Hawkins said. ''But Mr. Williams said: 'No more.'''
Added Selig: ''I had not noticed one before, therefore it only stays in show if you ever stay much time enough you will definitely see everything.''
While the NFL is known for a handful of dozen players appear to its draft, football possesses slowly created it has the event a location being with all the televised earliest round along with important league representatives accessible - just a couple of several years following the idea was previously held completely by simply conference call. The five players throughout work this holiday season ended up by far the most because draw up shifted to help MLB Network studios inside 2009.
''I expect you can easliy work towards that,'' Selig said. ''The much more folks we can possess here, the better I like it, anyone bet. Five is a good start, but most of us should do greater than that.''
Joining Correa and Hawkins were Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Heaney (No. 9, Marlins), Louisiana high school shortstop Gavin Cecchini (No. 12, Mets) and Washington higher school catcher Clint Coulter, who resolved to go 27th into the Brewers.
Heaney, a draft-eligible sophomore, had tears throughout his or her eyes right after Miami determined him. Sitting using the other prospective buyers in the makeshift dugout, Heaney headed about that will shake Selig's hands and also rapidly has been donning a Marlins cap along with jersey.
''That's with regards to almost all which travelled through my head is, 'Don't trip,''' a beaming Heaney said.
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