CORREA’S DERBY DECISION.
Resting up and maintaining his form are priorities for All-Star shortstop
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa will pass up a childhood dream for the sake of maintaining his red-hot production for the best team in baseball.
On Sunday, Correa said he will not participate in this year’s Home Run Derby during the All-Star festivities in Miami.
He wants to rest up for the second half of the season.
“I’m already feeling kind of tired before the (All-Star) break,” Correa said. “I want to make sure I’m rested. I need to have my body ready.”
Correa, 22, has appeared in 19 consecutive games. He has played in 76 of 83 contests this season, missing time in June for an illness.
Though Correa will not be part of the home run festivities in Miami on July 10, May’s AL Player of the Month will start in the 2017 All-Star Game on July 11.
“I want to compete (in the Home Run Derby) at some point,” Correa said. “But I want to be able to rest and be ready. Hopefully I’ll get another shot at it.”
He has exerted himself to restore a slow start. He has steadily raised his average from .220 on April 29 to .319 after Sunday’s finale against the Yankees, an 8-1 victory.
His 17 home runs — 15 of which came after April — are the second most on the Astros to George Springer’s 24.
Correa also said he does not want the temptation of trying to hit home runs in the derby to mess with his form.
During his current 12game hitting streak, Correa is batting .417 with 15 RBIs and four home runs. He has also reached base safely a in a career-high 20 consecutive games.
“I want to make sure I stay with my approach,” Correa said. “I want to make sure I stay with my swing right now.”
Astros manager A.J. Hinch sounded relieved by Correa’s decision.
“Not that anyone’s gotten hurt during (the Home Run Derby), but for the guys that grind every single day and play every day it’s a tall task to ask them to do that,” Hinch said. “It’s fun for the fans, fun for the league, even fun for the players, but if your heart’s not 100 percent in it or if you’re worried about anything in general, it’s nice that they pass. I don’t want our guys to do anything they don’t want to.”