Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa Wins AL Rookie Of The Year

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was named the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday. Correa received 17 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes for a total of 124 points.

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor came in second, with 13 firsts, 14 seconds and two thirds for 109 total points. Minnesota Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano was third with 20 points.

Correa, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, had an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .857, while Lindor’s was .835. Correa was also the majors’ youngest position player: he didn’t turn 21 until Sept. 22. He banged out 22 home runs and 68 runs in 387 at-bats. He had such an influence on the Astros that his fellow teammate Jose Altuve stated that Correa should be considered one of the faces of the game.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Correa stated on a conference call from his house in Puerto Rico, where he said thousands of proud fans were waiting to celebrate with him. “It really means a lot not only for them, but me as well.”

Correa is also the first Astro in team history to win the AL award, and the second to be named rookie of the year. Correa recognized that the metal plate in his right leg caused him pain for a good part of the year. His 2014 season with Class A Lancaster was cut short in June due to a broken right ankle.

PHOTO: HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 12: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros tosses his bat after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, his second home run of the game, against the Kansas City Royals during game four of the American League Divison Series at Minute Maid Park on October 12, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)