Houston's Correa looks to take another step in 2018
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) At just 23, Carlos Correa is already considered one of baseball's best shortstops. He thinks he can get better, too.
The Houston star is far from satisfied.
''I still have some holes in my game that people might not notice but I do,'' he said Thursday. ''I want to get better at that to have an even better season than last year. Last year was my best year yet by far, it was a great year, but I think I can do so many things better.''
He is reticent to share details about exactly what he is working on, saying he doesn't want to give his opponents any inside information. From the outside looking in, it's hard to pinpoint any deficiencies in Correa's game.
He hit a career-best .315 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs last year despite being slowed by a thumb injury that kept him out from mid-July to September. He returned to form by the postseason and hit five homers and drove in 14 runs in the playoffs to help the Astros to their first World Series title.
The first overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft has always been a solid defender, but he is looking to take that part of his game to the next level.
''I want to be able to save more runs and be an elite defender, and I think if I can do that with the way I hit it's just going to be something special,'' he said.
Manager A.J. Hinch loves to hear how Correa and the rest of his young players want to keep improving. He also thinks attitudes like Correa's mindset will be key to more success for the team this year.
''It's pretty nice,'' he said. ''It shows how special the season was, but it also shows that you're still vulnerable when you show up the next season if you haven't taken a step forward and that's the part that I'll demand out of them.''
Along with his success on the field, Correa is also thrilled about what's going on in his personal life. When he proposed to girlfriend Daniella Rodriguez on the field not long after Houston's Game 7 win in the World Series, the dashing couple became internet darlings, with video of the proposal being shared thousands of times.
Several months after that big moment Correa still beams when it's brought up and raves about his relationship with the former Miss Texas.
''It's beautiful,'' he said. ''I'm a happy man. I get off the field and I look forward to seeing my fiancee and my dog and spending time with them. That's just who I am. I don't like to go out. I like to just eat, sleep, play baseball and spend time with my family.''
They haven't set a date for the wedding, but want to have plenty of time to plan to ceremony. They are aiming for some time in December 2019.
But before then Correa has plenty of work to do, namely helping the Astros repeat as champions this year.
''On paper we're better than last year, it's all about us putting in the work and showing it on the field,'' he said. ''What inspires me and drives me right now is ... that nobody's settling, nobody is laying back, everybody is working to try to be better this year. If everybody's trying to do that the team's only going to get better.''
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