.@TeamCJCorrea just set the bar for 2016.
— #Statcast (@statcast) April 7, 2016
A 462-foot BLAST. https://t.co/1gb6bB9ja7 #Statcast pic.twitter.com/F1at1eSZ4O
Carlos Correa's 5th inning HR (2nd of game) is the longest HR at Yankee Stadium since A-Rod's 460-foot HR in 2011. pic.twitter.com/DtsnNw5owx
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 7, 2016
Carlos Correa (HOU): youngest visiting player with 2 HR in a game in New York vs Yankees since Manny Ramirez in 1993.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 7, 2016
The biggest blunder of the offseason? It has to go to Nike for not signing Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. The second-year phenom signed a five-year endorsement deal with adidas in February, but here's the hitch: According to this report in the Houston Chronicle, "Correa was previously signed to Nike, making $2,500 in his rookie season as part of a standard minor league contract. Nike had the first right of refusal this offseason, so they could have matched adidas' offer, but chose not to."
Correa himself explained in an essay this week on SoleCollector.com titled "Baseball Is Not Dying," why he signed with adidas, writing, "The decision was simple: Because other brands are stuck in the past. My decision to sign with adidas hinged on the opportunity to define what that future of baseball will look like. They looked for an opportunity to do things in a different way and presented a new way of thinking about baseball, fusing performance and style."
OK, that's some good corporate speak, but this part is the truth: Correa is the future of baseball. Actually, that's not quite right. He's the present of baseball. That 462-foot home run off Michael Pineda? That would have ranked tied for the 32nd-longest home run last season out of the 4,909 that were hit.
This is from a shortstop who's just 21 years old. Yes, the kid has performance and plenty of style.
Get those commercials rolling, adidas.