The Houston Astros made a bold move today by promoting top prospect shortstop Carlos Correa. The 20-year was selected #1 overall in the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft. He was drafted ahead of current MLB players Addison Russell, Joey Gallo and teammate Lance McCullers Jr.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow once said they were prepared to take their time in developing Correa, but that plan is difficult to do when your team is currently in the first place and your top prospect is killing it in the minors.

Correa is a big 6’4 shortstop that is expected to develop decent power. He has already hit ten homers in 246 minor league at-bats this season.

Are the Astros legit contenders in the American League? It’s a bit too early to say. They are one of the youngest teams in the Majors and promoting Correa makes them even younger. Houston is currently in the first place in the AL West with a record of 34-24. They could surprise us all by staying in the race all season…we have seen crazier things.

Houston has been drafting near the top of the MLB Amateur Draft for the last four or five seasons. They have amassed a farm system that rivals the best in baseball. They have promoted George Springer, Vince Velasquez and Lance McCullers Jr. the last two years and still have pitchers Mark Appel and Michael Feliz developing in the minors.

Houston will be a legit contender soon and could very well be good for a long time.

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About the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.