SECAUCUS, N.J. — The top player selected by the Houston Astros in Monday’s MLB draft was shortstop Carlos Correa. A few hours later, the Boston Red Sox followed suit, taking shortstop Deven Marrero with the 24th pick in the first round.

Boston added pitcher Brian Johnson with the 31st pick to finish the first round, and pitcher Pat Light in the compensation round with the 37th selection overall

Marrero just finished his junior season with Arizona State, where he hit .284 with four home runs and 11 stolen bases.

But it’s on the defensive side of the ball where Marrero is expected to make an impact; he was the Pac-12’s defensive player of the year.

Johnson, who just finished his junior year at the University of Florida, is a big left-hander who has also shown some ability to hit when he plays first base.

Johnson posted a 3.88 ERA this year while going 8-4 record, and he hit .313.

Light, a righty, went 8-3 at Monmouth with a 2.40 ERA. He struck out 102 batters in 1011/3 innings.

Houston had the top pick in the draft for the first time since 1992, when the Astros selected Phil Nevin — passing on a young shortstop named Derek Jeter, who went five spots later to the Yankees.

“I have read about that,” Correa said, calling Jeter his idol as much for the New York captain’s character off the field as on. “I want to be like him. He’s awesome.”

First-year Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa “has a chance to be a star” who could hit 20-30 home runs in the pros, whether it’s as a shortstop or “ultimately maybe third base.”

He’s the first Puerto Rican to be selected first overall.

Correa has an incredibly strong arm and terrific instincts on defense, and the Astros hope they’ve found a big-time bat for the middle of their lineup. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound star from Santa Isabel starred at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and is committed to the University of Miami, but is likely headed to Houston’s farm system instead.

“Right now, he stays at shortstop and if he was to happen to grow out of it, it’s the power that’s the attraction here and it’s the middle of the order potential impact bat,” Astros scouting director and assistant general manager Bobby Heck said. “So if he has to move, his profile is still very, very strong.”

With the second pick, Minnesota took speedy Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton.

University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino, who has drawn comparisons to former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek for his leadership and ability to handle a pitching staff, was taken No. 3 overall by Seattle.

Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, who many experts thought would be the No. 1 overall pick, instead lasted until Pittsburgh’s pick at No. 8.