Heitor Correa

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #19 prospect in 2010
  The Phillies signed Correa in 2006 as the highlight of their first Brazilian signing class. He lost much of his prospect luster in 2008, when Philadelphia suspended him and sent him home to Brazil for disciplinary reasons. Correa returned last season and became the best starter on Lakewood's staff before he tired and lost his last five decisions. A back injury kept him out of the South Atlantic playoffs, but he got in 124 innings of needed work. Correa's fastball reached 94 mph consistently when he signed as a 16-year-old, and he touched that peak in 2009 while sitting at 89-93 mph. He has solid secondary pitches, with one of the system's better breaking balls. Alternately described as a slider or power curve, it arrives in the low 80s with some depth. His changeup gives him a third average-or-better pitch. Correa's control is his biggest issue. He doesn't throw enough quality strikes and hasn't learned how to control the armside run on his fastball, leading to 21 hit batsmen--19 against righthanders. He creates decent plane to the plate and gave up just six homers last season. Correa's inexperience means he'll move a step at a time, heading to high Class A for 2010. His ceiling is the highest among Philadelphia's international pitchers and ranks among the best in the system.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #17 prospect in 2008
  Of the four players the Phillies signed out of Brazil for a combined $200,000 in 2006, Correa is the best. He more than held his own in the Gulf Coast League last year, cutting his ERA from 7.83 in his pro debut to 3.74 while still being one of the youngest players in the Rookie circuit at age 17. Correa features a 90-93 mph fastball, a hard 73-77 mph curveball and good feel for his changeup. His fastball has outstanding late life and finish with sink that produces a lot of grounders. He's a strike-thrower who pounds all quadrants of the strike zone. He sometimes gets around on his curve, and while his changeup has above-average potential, he needs to refine his command to make it an effective third pitch. Likened by many in the organization to a young Carlos Carrasco, he might even show more maturity than Carrasco did at the same level. Correa speaks three languages and the Phillies rave about his makeup. He's wiry strong and repeats his delivery well. He could have the makings of a frontline starter if everything comes together. He'll start 2008 in low Class A.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #28 prospect in 2007
  One of four players the Phillies signed out of Brazil for a total of $200,000 in 2006, Correa has the highest ceiling of the group. Some club officials already compare his stuff to Carlos Carrasco's, and they rave about Correa's maturity level and aptitude. He throws three pitches for strikes, working with a 90-94 mph fastball, a curveball with above-average potential and a changeup that shows flashes of being a plus offering. Though he has promising secondary pitches, Correa is reluctant to use them and is content to change speeds with his fastball and vary his location. He's very raw and still learning how to attack hitters in different situations, but his upside is exceptional. He'll battle for a job in the low Class A rotation, but with his age and experience level, Williamsport is a more likely destination.