KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Top prospect Carlos Correa and Matt Dominguez, Houston's regular third baseman for the last two seasons, were among eight players cut by the Astros from their big league spring training camp Sunday.
Correa, a 20-year-old shortstop who was the first pick in the 2012 amateur draft, was reassigned to minor league camp along with pitchers Darin Downs, and James Hoyt, catcher Tyler Heineman and infielder Gregorio Petit.
"I can taste it. I feel really close. I feel like I had a great camp," said the 20-year-old Correa, who batted .341 with two home runs in 18 spring games. "I did pretty well out there. It's just baseball. It gets better every level you go up ."
Dominguez, pitcher Jake Buchanan and catcher Max Stassi were optioned to the minors.
"We're cutting into some flesh now with guys competing pretty hard for our team," manager A.J. Hinch said. "No one that has now been cut has been more involved with the Astros at the major league level than Matt Dominguez. He was disappointed, rightfully so."
Luis Valbuena, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a January trade, will be Houston's regular third baseman at the season's start.
