All-star from Puerto Rico skips Astros’ trip to White House

All-Star Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa skipped his team’s visit to the White House on Monday.

Correa, who is from Puerto Rico, did not join his teammates in the East Room of the White House, where President Trump praised the team for their first World Series championship and for their work in helping the city of Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey.

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Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico shortly after. The Trump administration has been criticized for its response to that natural disaster.

A spokesman for the team said Correa and others absent from the ceremony missed it because of other obligations.

Carlos Correa is not with the Astros at the White House

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 12, 2018

carlos correa has done so much to aid and support puerto rico. an astros spokesman says he “and other” astros couldn’t attend due to a “family obligation.” https://t.co/rV4cTL40Ul

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2018

Carlos Correa and Ken Giles were among the Astros who did not make the trip to D.C. According to the team, each had a family obligation.

— Jerome Solomon (@JeromeSolomon) March 12, 2018

Outfielder Carlos Beltran, who retired after last season and has been critical of the administration’s recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, also did not attend Monday’s ceremony.

Most of the 2017 Astros were on hand, including World Series MVP George Springer, All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve and pitcher Justin Verlander, whom the president described as a “friend” and golfing buddy.

Trump praised the team for switching into action to help those who had been displaced in the region during the historic flooding from Harvey.

“I want to thank every member of the Astros team who spent time with those displaced in shelters,” Trump said. “You brought food and supplies to all over Texas and beyond and gave millions of dollars of your salaries.”

The president noted that when Maria struck several weeks later, “the Houston Astros redoubled their assistance and many went there and helped.”

“Our administration will continue to stand by the people of Texas, and Florida and Puerto Rico and Louisiana, even Alabama, so many places were affected and we’re standing by all of them,” Trump said.

Several members of the “Cajun Navy,” a volunteer group from Louisiana that conducted search-and-rescue efforts during the hurricanes, were also invited to the White House, as was Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who opened the doors of his furniture store to those who had been displaced.

“What you went through with Harvey, it was really a tribute, a show of spirit,” Trump said. “Houston strong.”