Astros Report Card: Grading the infielders’ 2019 season

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Alex Bregman #2, Yuli Gurriel #10 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros stand on the field during the national anthem before Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on October 05, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Alex Bregman #2, Yuli Gurriel #10 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros stand on the field during the national anthem before Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on October 05, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Carlos Correa:  C

This is another grade that may be a little controversial and I’m sure there is a wide range of opinions on Carlos Correa’s season. Yes, when Correa is on the field, there aren’t a lot of players better. But that’s the problem here, his lack of playing time due to injury. And it’s not just this season, this seems to be a trend over the last few seasons.

This season Correa participated in just 75 games, less than half of the season. He missed 50 games in the middle of the season because of the infamous massage induced fractured rib. Not one month after coming off the Injured List for the rib, he went right back on it for a stiff back, right at a crucial time of the season when the Astros were striving for postseason home-field advantage.

Last season he missed 36 games with another back problem, and when he returned in mid-August, he wasn’t the same, putting up less than impressive numbers, to say the least. Correa has missed 42 games or more in each of the last three seasons. Gurriel, Bregman, Aledmys Diaz, and a few others filled in admirably while he was out, but is this what we want from our starting shortstop?

As I stated before, when he was in the lineup, he was a great asset to the team. He slashed .279/.358/.568 with a .926 OPS. Not overwhelming numbers. But when you consider he hit 21 homers and knocked in 59 runs in just 75 games, he contributed greatly when he was available.

Correa obviously has the talent to be a great ballplayer offensively and defensively, making eye-catching plays on the field. But I just can’t help but wonder if Houston might be better off dangling him out there as trade bait and see who bites.