The countdown for Carlos Correa is on, the excitement palpable for the Houston Astros to deploy the game’s best middle infield. That’s not being presumptuous. It’s the truth in 2015, when offense has degraded to the point Zack Cozart has the best OPS among qualified shortstops by nearly 100 points.

Correa is a marvel, an almost-unfair complement to Jose Altuve, two anchors around whom the Astros can continue to build their grand experiment. By this time next month, Correa may not be in the minor leagues anymore, so allow us the opportunity to lead off the season’s first Prospect Heat Check with him. It’s a look around the minor leagues at who’s hot, who’s not and, in Correa’s case, who’s next.

View photos Carlos Correa, 20, has all the tools to be a star. (Getty) More

1. Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros, Triple-A: The Astros spared the Texas League any further indignity after Correa torched it for a month to the tune of .385/.459/.726 with seven home runs, 32 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 15 tries. His promotion to Triple-A sets the stage for his arrival at 20 years old, a latter-day Alex Rodriguez as a 6-foot-4 shortstop with a chance to stay there. Once he comes, he’s not going back.

2. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Triple-A: Correa hopes his promotion to Triple-A goes better than Seager’s has. He’s hitting .189/.268/.297 in 10 games there after putting up Correa-like numbers at Double-A. The plan hasn’t changed: If Seager isn’t the shortstop for the Dodgers by the end of next April, it will be an upset.

3. Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins, Double-A: Absent injuries, Buxton probably would be in the major leagues by now. Instead, he’s toiling two levels down, still hitting for power, still running, still with a great glove, still throwing lasers. The timetable, not the talent, changed. And even if he’s not the flavor of the moment, give it time. He’ll be so again soon enough.

4. Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Double-A: It’s Urias’ third year in a full-season league, and he’s still the 10th-youngest player in all of the minors right now. Because of his age and performance, he is the best pitching prospect around, a combination of polish, performance and promise unmatched otherwise. Urias’ numbers are unfair for anyone and unbelievable for an 18-year-old: 2.48 ERA over 32 2/3 innings with 26 baserunners and 39 strikeouts. Urias, Seager and Joc Pederson arriving to the same team within a year or so doesn’t seem fair, and with Yadier Alvarez expected to sign with the Dodgers on July 2 and a monster international class joining him, the rich are only getting richer.

5. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis, High-A: The breakout star of 2015 has 52 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings and, better yet, is controlling his walks, issuing just one each in his last two starts. If Reyes develops even a modicum of control, he’s got No. 1-starter upside, with a fastball that sits in the 100-mph range. One scout has his doubts. “I think he ends up a closer,” he said.

6. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Toronto, High-A: Hoffman still hasn’t thrown a pitch in an official game. He’s set to debut May 20 in his first appearance since Tommy John surgery last year at East Carolina. Still, one scout said, “The buzz is insane.” There are the reports of Hoffman hitting 99 mph in side sessions and this video of his curveball, which was immediately banned in 31 states and Puerto Rico.

Story continues