Jul 28, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
On Tuesday morning, Houston Astros standout Carlos Correa paid a visit to the Houston Texans' practice facility.
The past few days have been filled with Texans-related activities for the first-place Astros: On Sunday, Correa tackled Jose Altuve after the second baseman drove in the winning run with a single to center field. A day later (the same day Altuve and Houston ace Dallas Keuchel filmed videos for the Texans), manager A.J. Hinch expressed his lack of enthusiasm regarding Correa's tackling skills and the risks and dangers that go along with such celebratory antics.
On Tuesday, Correa spent some time with Texans star J.J. Watt...who, Correa admits, has a much better tackling ability than he does.
After watching Watt do his thing on the practice field, Correa - who stands 6'4" - was notably impressed: "I saw J.J. with a nice tackle out there and I'm like: `Wow, I better quit tackling people.'"
The impression left on Correa was sizable enough to make him feel pretty 'small' out there, a sentiment he conveyed to David Barron of the Houston Chronicle: "When you come here and see real men playing football, it's pretty scary. You want to stay off the lines and watch it from the stands. When I'm on the baseball field, I feel like I'm the big guy. Here, I feel like I'm the small guy. I feel like the Altuve here."
Correa played catch with Watt and other Texans players, including Jadeveon Clowney, who apparently told Correa that he picked football over baseball as a kid after being drilled by a baseball during a game. Correa, on the other hand, isn't afraid of getting hit by a ball: "I said, 'You'd rather get hit by somebody than get hit by a baseball?' and he was like, 'Yeah, man, of course.' It's a different perspective. I'd rather get hit by a ball than by a person."
As for Watt, who advised against any more tackle celebrations, Correa rained down compliments on him when speaking with Barron: "He's a great guy. He represents Houston sports and he's the man here, and it's always good to talk with him and learn from him. He tells me to keep working hard and keep making us proud."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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