Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer

When the Astros approached opening day, A.J. Hinch pleaded with his bosses to bring Yordan Álvarez to Tampa Bay. The phenom flashed brilliance throughout spring training, first on the back fields and then beneath the baffled eyes of the major league staff.

His power was a thing of legend. Álvarez's advanced plate presence could immediately aid any lineup — even one as entrenched as the Astros' seemed. Hinch suggested the team add him to the 25-man roster in March, before Houston opened its season against the Rays.

The comfort more proven players seemed to provide — be it Tyler White, Jake Marisnick or Tony Kemp — won out over Álvarez's potential. Fear he would qualify for the Super Two and an extra year of arbitration eligibility kept him in the minor leagues far too long.

"I can't say enough about the transition he made and the patience he showed before he got called up — and I'm not talking about taking pitches," Hinch said. "Just controlling what he can control and immediately absorbing all the coaching."

"He's above and beyond what anybody could have expected a guy like him to be."

Álvarez all but assured he will win American League Rookie of the Year honors on Monday. He hit two more home runs, breaking Carlos Correa's single-season rookie franchise record. Correa set it in 2015. He soon became the second Astro to be named Rookie of the Year.

Álvarez will be the third. A chance exists he will win the award unanimously.

Two of his foremost competitors — Boston's Michael Chavis and Tampa's Brandon Lowe — are on the injured list and not expected to return this season. He brought a 3.0 fWAR into Monday's game. No healthy American League rookie had a mark higher than 1.8.

Álvarez's lack of defensive position could dissuade some voters, especially if Minnesota infielder Luis Arráez and Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette continue their torrid seasons.

One look at Álvarez's offensive numbers will cast aside any doubts. He has a 1.082 OPS and a .316 average through 71 games. He's walked 41 times and struck out just 77. Forty-six of his 83 hits have garnered extra bases. In major league history, only Joe DiMaggio accrued more extra-base hits in his first 71 career games.

"To be, what, 22 and be that good, it takes a good approach at the plate," Robinson Chirinos said. "Earlier when he came up, he was hitting away pitches and they were trying to go up and in and he was taking his walks. When you see a kid that young and have the approach he has, it's just special. You don't see that many guys have that approach and the talent he has. It's been really good to watch."

Monday furthered Álvarez's case for the best rookie season by a position player in Astros history. He did not just break Correa's four-year-old home run record — he shattered it. Correa required 99 games and 432 plate appearances to hit 22 home runs in 2015.

Álvarez struck his 23rd home run during his 304th major league plate appearance and during his 71st game.

"I wasn't thinking about it at the time, but I went back to the dugout and someone told me," Álvarez said through an interpreter. "I went to look for Correa and he congratulated me. We hugged it out. It was a great moment for me."

"It's definitely surprised me a little bit. I expected to do well, but to do this well with so many home runs, it has surprised me a little bit."

Álvarez's 24th home run was an awe-inspiring blast, one that landed in the third deck of the right-field seats behind the foul pole. Astros historian Mike Acosta said no Houston player had ever hit a baseball there.

"We thought this guy was going to be very impactful," Hinch said Monday.

"But this is beyond belief or anything that people could have expected."