Astros sign top pick shortstop Carlos Correa - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Astros sign top pick shortstop Carlos Correa

Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow announced on Thursday the signing of shortstop Carlos Correa, the top pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft.

"I'm just happy to be an Astro now," Correa said. "I want to get to the big leagues and be a leader, that's all I want. All of the Hard work has paid off.

"For Puerto Rico this is big. This is history."

Correa said he is thrilled he was able to get his contract done quickly.

"It means a lot," Correa said. "I want to play baseball. I want to play for the Houston Astros.

"I have a dream to accomplish."

MLB sources confirm Correa received a signing bonus of $4.8 million, well below the maximum of $7.2 million established for being drafted with the top pick.

This will give the Astros additional flexibility toward signing the rest of their draft picks like Florida high school pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., who was taken with the 41st-overall pick.

"Our goal is to have an event like this during our next homestand (June 18) for Lance, but we have a long way to get there, but that's our goal," Luhnow said.