Jose Altuve greeted him with not one but two bear hugs, practically jumping into his arms. Hank Conger nonchalantly compared him to reigning AL MVP Mike Trout. Even the otherwise cool A.J. Hinch was giddy.
Such was the scene inside the U.S. Cellular Field visitors’ clubhouse on June 8 a few hours before Carlos Correa made his major-league debut against the White Sox. The hype and anticipation could not have been greater. Then Altuve added some extra spice by declaring the Puerto Rican shortstop the Astros’ best player. Never mind that Correa had not taken a single at-bat in the majors.