HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- As Carlos Correa walked towards the Minute Maid Park batter’s box three pitches into Monday’s game, Martin Maldonado took 10 steps in front of home plate and turned to look back at his friend. He then joined in a loud ovation that lasted close to 50 seconds.
“Maldy and I had talked about how we were going to approach (the at bat),” Astros pitcher Justin Verlander said. “We knew the ovation was going to be great. He was a great player here and just so loved in the city of Houston for all he’s done on the field and off the field.”
Before the game, Maldonado said he hoped the outpouring of love from the crowd would bring Correa to tears.
“It's gonna be pretty emotional,” Correa said in a pregame press conferece. “I don't know if I will cry. I'm not the type of guy that cries because of emotion, but who knows, it's a pretty special moment to get to be in front of the Houston fans once again.”
Correa returned to the place he called home for seven seasons on Tuesday and faced the team that drafted him number one overall a decade ago for the first time. Verlander struck out him out in the first inning, he then grounded to the man who now plays his position with his old team, Jeremy Peña, in the fourth, and then broke up the Astros no-hitter in the seventh after Verlander left the game
The Astros honored Correa with a 90 second tribute video 20 minutes before Verlander threw his first pitch of the night, and then Dusty Baker and Lance McCullers Jr. presented him with his American League Championship. McCullers’ inclusion in the ceremony was especially important.
“He's my best friend and he's my son's godfather and our relationship goes way back to 2012 when we both got drafted and played every minor league game together.”
Correa said he had this series circled on his calendar after signing a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins in March, but with the Twins landing in Houston at 3:00 am on Tuesday morning following a game in Arlington on Monday, he hadn’t had time to reflect on his time with the Astros, but the six postseason appearances, three American League pennants, and 2017 World Series title speak for themselves.
“From the moment that I got here, and we started winning in ’15 to now, the organization, and the front office, Jim Crane, they've done a great job of putting the right product on the field, and I've always appreciated what we had back then, and I know they appreciate what they have right now.
“It's just a great organization top to bottom, and they're built to win, which is why it's exciting to come here and play them with the Minnesota Twins and go out there and compete against them.”