Correa hit a solo home run to left in the first inning and a two-run blast to right in the sixth, becoming the first shortstop in more than a century to collect 12 home runs by their 46th game in the majors.
For a historical perspective it’s important to note that eight home runs was the previous high by a shortstop through the first 46 games of a career. Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, Nomar Garciaparra, and Geoff Blum all had eight home runs through the first 46 games of their respective careers, tying for the previous high for a shortstop.
HOUSTON -- As Astros manager A.J. Hinch put it after Saturday's 9-2 win over the D-backs, it takes a man to go opposite field.
Carlos Correa is a man.
Correa continued his astronomical ascent up the baseball hierarchy, achieving the first multihomer game of his two-month old career, the second blast going to the opposite field into the right-field bleachers.
Because the opposite-field power is nothing new to Hinch, he was more impressed with Correa's first dinger, a sinking liner he snuck just inside the foul pole and into the left-field Crawford Boxes.
"To keep it fair was really impressive," Hinch said. "An offspeed pitch where he was sort of fooled and stayed through the ball, which showed some strength. And then the opposite-field home run, you've got to be a man to go oppo, and at 20, he's showing that pretty routinely."
His 12 homers in his first 46 games is an Astros record, surpassing George Springer's 10. Correa is only the ninth rookie since 2000 to have as many home runs in that span.
...
"I never look at stats," Correa said. "I just look at a way where I can help my team win games and every single day I go out there to perform and help my team win games. That's the bottom line. I try to go out there to perform and to help my team win and do my best out there."
Talk to veterans in the clubhouse and they'll all say it's that maturity and grace coupled with the constant praising of other teammates that sets Correa apart from other rookies.
He was struggling the last couple weeks going into the break(as was basically our entire lineup), but he's really turned it on since then.
It's not just his ability as a hitter either, his defense is excellent and he has a hell of an arm. I love watching this dude play. Only 20 years old and already making a case for being the best SS in all of baseball(along with Tulowitzki). The Astros have something really special with him and I look forward to seeing him dominate the league for the next 10-15 years.
I really, really can't wait for Springer to get back out there! Holy tits they're going to be fun to watch.
