Astros Select Carlos Correa, Kevin Gausman & Stryker Trahan Taken In First Round
The Houston Astros surprised the experts on Monday night, selecting 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa, from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, with the first pick in the Major League Baseball 2012 First-Year Draft.
Most people thought the Astros would take Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, or Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton, but the 6'4", 190-pound Corea, who projects as a middle-of-the-order power hitter, was just to impressive for the Astros to pass up.
Correa becomes the first shortstop taken with the top pick since the Rays took Tim Beckham back in 2008, and becomes just the fourth shortstop taken first overall since 1994.
Correa is a commitment of the University of Miami, but the Astros seem to have no doubt that they will sign him.
With the fourth pick, the Baltimore Orioles selected LSU right-hander pitcher Kevin Gausman. Gausman, a sophomore, who goes 6'4", 185 pounds., is currently 11-1, with a a 2.72 era. for a Tiger team that will be taking on Stony Brook in Super Regional Play this weekend. Gausman, who becomes the second-highest picked LSU player ever, has struck out 128 hitters in 115.2 innings this year.
With the 26th-overall pick in the draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected catcher Stryker Trahan, of Acadiana High School. Trahan, who is 6'1'', and 220 pounds, hit a .460, with five homers, and 31 RBI's for the Wreckin' Rams this season.
Trahan is an Ole Miss commitment, but the Diamondbacks obviously think he is signable.
Here's The Complete First Round: