MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 17: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a fly ball to left field for an out in the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays played on May 17, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 12: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on May 12, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

1. Carlos Correa

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa made history in 2015 when he hit third in a playoff game at the age of 21, the youngest player to do so since Mickey Mantle all the way back in 1953. The first overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft has been everything the Astros could have hoped for in the first four years of his career. Correa has already put himself on par with the early-career numbers of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who are both set to earn between $300-400 million this offseason.

Limited to only 109 games last season due to injury, Correa still managed to hit 24 home runs and drive in 84 with a .315/.391/.550 slash line. He followed his stellar regular season up with a heroic postseason that included five doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI in 18 games as Houston won the title. Were it not for George Springer’s other-worldly effort, Correa would have won World Series MVP.

Through his age-22 season, Correa’s career parallels nicely with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. They are both big shortstops with a World Series ring and huge power numbers at a young age. Correa, like Ripken, isn’t the rangiest middle infielder in the world, but he will make every play he’s supposed to and has very sure hands.

Correa is obviously in lofty company with fair comparisons to Ripken, but he has the mental makeup to continue living up to the hype without getting complacent in his game. He may never approach the massive power numbers of Alex Rodriguez, but this 23-year-old phenom looks like a lock for a career full of .300/.400/.500 seasons with 30 home runs.

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