Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve will meet as foes in the World Baseball Classic.
Double-play pals will next meet as foes in World Baseball Classic
JUPITER, Fla. — After the top of the sixth inning of the Astros’ 7-7 tie with the Miami Marlins on Sunday, manager A.J. Hinch substituted for both members of his star-studded middle infield duo.
The next time Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa play on the same field, it will be as opponents.
“When we’re wearing the Astros uniform and he’s hitting in front of me, I’m hoping he hits a double all the time so I have an RBI chance,” said Correa, the team’s cleanup-hitting shortstop. “This time, I’m hoping he hits a ground ball every single time so he gets out.”
The Astros’ two biggest stars and double-play partners since June 2015, Altuve and Correa after Sunday’s spring training game turned their attention to competing against one another in the World Baseball Classic. They will leave Florida on Monday to join Team Venezuela and Team Puerto Rico, respectively, ahead of the WBC opener for both countries Friday night in Jalisco, Mexico.
Altuve and Correa will meet their teams in Arizona, where Venezuela and Puerto Rico will play exhibition games Wednesday and Thursday against major league teams. Their clash Friday at Estadio Charros de Jalisco begins at 8 p.m. and will be televised by MLB Network.
Big Astros contingent
“It’s going to be great, but at the same time, it’s going to be tough,” Altuve said. “Carlos, (Francisco) Lindor, (Carlos) Beltran — (they have) a great team. I think it’s going to be a really good game, and we’ll see what happens.”
This is the first WBC for Altuve, 26, and Correa, 22, good friends whose lockers neighbor one another in the home clubhouse at Minute Maid Park.
It will be the fourth WBC for Beltran, 39, who played his last pre-tournament Grapefruit League game Saturday.
Third baseman Alex Bregman will play once more with the Astros on Monday before driving 75 miles south to Miami to meet Team USA.
Relievers Luke Gregerson (USA) and Kevin Chapman (Canada) are also headed to Miami but won’t pitch for the Astros on Monday. Outfielder Nori Aoki is with Team Japan in Tokyo.
The pool-play opener pitting Venezuela against Puerto Rico is one of the more marquee first-round matchups, and Altuve and Correa are among the best players on either side. Correa said he has told Team Puerto Rico he’s willing to play third base, a means of getting him and Lindor, the 23-year-old Cleveland Indians star shortstop, in the same lineup.
“I have no problem with that,” Correa said. “I feel like Lindor earned a spot winning the Gold Glove (last year), and I said I have no problem playing third base. So I think I’ll be playing third base out there.”
Altuve, of course, will play second base. The four-time All-Star touted Venezuela’s lineup, noting that “every team that has Miguel Cabrera in their lineup has to be good.”
The banter begins
As Altuve spoke in front of his locker in a mostly empty visitors’ clubhouse at Roger Dean Stadium, a grinning Correa interjected from across the room.
“No pitching, though!” Correa said.
Felix Hernandez might beg to differ.
“It’s going to be great,” Altuve said. “I played on the Venezuelan team back when I was like 14 years old, and it was an honor for me wearing that jersey. And now that I have a couple years in the big leagues, playing with guys like Cabrera, (Carlos Gonzalez), it’s like a dream come true.”
Altuve had only one hit in his first 12 Grapefruit League at-bats before leaving the Astros but said he feels “great” and is pleased with his swing despite balls not falling in for hits. Correa had only two hits in 13 at-bats but echoed similar sentiments.
Now each gets to suit up for his country on an international stage.
“I’m really excited,” Correa said. “Ever since you sign to play professional baseball, you want to represent your country. I finally get to do that.”
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