Pitcher Jean Correa Sold to Cincinnati Reds

BILLINGS-In a continuation of the pipeline of talent from the Magic City to the Queen City, the Billings Mustangs announced on Saturday the sale of the contract of pitcher Jean Correa to the Cincinnati Reds.

Correa is the seventh Mustang to have his contract purchased by an MLB team since the franchise moved to the independent ranks, and the second this season, the other being catcher Andrew Miller, who was sold to the Seattle Mariners on May 13 before players reported to Billings. Correa is also the first Mustang to be signed by Cincinnati since the end of Billings' 47-year affiliation (1974-2020) with the Reds.

Correa, a 24-year-old right-hander from San Feliz, Venezuela, was in his second Pioneer League season after pitching for Rocky Mountain in 2021 and finishing in the Pioneer League top-ten in both innings pitched and strikeouts. In 10 games this season, he is 4-0 with a 4.23 ERA in 27.0 innings, walking seven and striking out 22, while posting a WHIP of a miniscule 0.976 and an impressive .204 opponent's batting average.

After beginning the season with eight outings out of the bullpen, Correa made his first start of the season on June 26 vs. Boise and responded by twirling 7.0 no-hit innings before allowing his first hit in the eighth inning. The right-hander did not walk a batter and allowed just two hit batters other than the single hit in a 94-pitch masterpiece. For his efforts, he earned Pioneer League North Division Pitcher of the Week honors.

He followed that up by allowing two runs in 6.0 innings against Rocky Mountain and earning another win on July 2 in what turned out to be his final outing in a Mustangs uniform.

Correa previously had played in the affiliated ranks with the Kansas City Royals, pitching in the Dominican Summer League in 2018-19, going 3-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 19 outings.

Besides Correa and Miller, other Mustangs signed to MLB organizations include Taylor Bloye (Kansas City), Jordan Hovey (Kansas City), Chris Jefferson (Seattle), Ruben Ramirez (Seattle), and Liam Sabino (Seattle), all of whom signed during the 2021 season.