Tag: Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa Won’t Rejoin Astros This Season Due to Ankle Injury

Houston Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa will not return this season as the team pushes for a playoff berth, manager Joe Espada announced Tuesday. The decision ends Correa’s comeback attempt from left ankle surgery performed on May 11, which initially carried a six-to-eight-month recovery timeline.

Recovery Progress Stalls Due to Inflammation

Correa appeared close to a return over the weekend, and Espada indicated Sunday that the veteran infielder would likely begin rehabilitation games with Triple-A Sugar Land this week. However, the organization opted to shut down his 2026 campaign and shift focus toward spring training readiness for 2027.

Espada clarified that Correa did not suffer a setback. Instead, the progressive increase in baseball activity triggered inflammation in the repaired ankle.

“It’s just the buildup and every day we did a little bit more around the bases, the swinging on the field, the just being on the spikes for such a long time, it just kind of flared up on him,” Espada said. “And I think the smart thing to do right now is for Carlos to focus on next season.”

Manager Expresses Disappointment Over Timing

The Astros entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the Kansas City Royals holding a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers atop the American League West. Espada acknowledged the frustration of seeing Correa’s extensive rehabilitation fall short at the final stage.

“Is it disappointing to know how hard he worked and it just came up short,” he said. “For me that’s the most disappointing part, that you know how much work he put into trying to get back and you see the light at the end of the road and the fact that we couldn’t get past the hours of work, the strain that caused to his ankle during his workouts, it’s sad.”

Postseason Return Ruled Out

Even if Houston advances deep into the playoffs, Espada does not envision a scenario where Correa could rejoin the active roster this year. The manager emphasized the need for caution given the physical toll the ramp-up process has taken.

“We’re at a point where we have to be really smart about this,” he said. “It’s gotten to a point where it’s tough for him to get going. Like he wakes up in the morning and just to get him going it’s tough and we have to be cautious with this.”

Correa’s Contract and Season Statistics

Correa rejoined the Astros last summer via a blockbuster trade from the Minnesota Twins. He played third base for Houston in 2025 with Jeremy Peña at shortstop, then returned to his natural shortstop position this season while Peña recovered from a hamstring injury.

The 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick carries salaries of $31.5 million in 2026, $30.5 million in 2027, and $30 million in 2028. As part of the trade agreement, the Twins will send $10 million to the Astros each December 15 from 2026 through 2028.

Before the injury, Correa was batting .279 with three home runs and 16 RBI. He spent his first seven major league seasons with Houston before signing with Minnesota, where he played three-and-a-half years prior to last summer’s trade.

09/15/2026
Astros Players the Team Is Counting On in September

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. Subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK — The final month of the season will determine the pennant races and playoff positioning for October. The Astros, who lead the American League West, have 24 games remaining and will open September with nine of their first 12 games against teams currently in playoff position.

After going 8-18 in April, Houston has not had another losing month. The Astros went 15-14 in May, 16-11 in June, 13-10 in July and 14-13 in August. Last season, Houston went 12-13 in September and missed the playoffs by one game, ending an eight-year postseason streak.

Five Astros who will shape September

Yordan Alvarez

After being named the American League Player of the Month for July — the second time he won the award in 2026 — Alvarez cooled off in August. Through 27 games, he slashed .287/.415/.457 with two home runs and 12 RBIs, while being intentionally walked nine times.

Alvarez still held a lead in two of the three AL Triple Crown categories, with a .317 batting average and 94 RBIs. He was also tied with Junior Caminero for the Major League home run lead at 37. A strong finish could help Alvarez secure the AL Most Valuable Player Award while also delivering another division title for Houston.

Hunter Brown

Brown missed more than two months early in the season because of a right shoulder strain, so he should be fresh in September after throwing only 81 innings. He appeared to recapture his ace form in his final two starts of August, allowing two runs on 12 hits and four walks while striking out 14 batters over 12 1/3 innings.

With shortcomings in the Astros’ starting rotation, Houston will rely on Brown to provide quality starts. September is the only month in which Brown has posted a losing record during his career, going 5-8 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 games, including 15 starts.

Brandon Blubaugh

The rookie reliever is emerging as an important late-inning weapon for manager Joe Espada. Blubaugh combines a 98-mph four-seam fastball that he can blow by hitters with the ability to work multiple innings.

A closer in college, Blubaugh finished August with 12 consecutive scoreless innings across eight games. He leads the Major Leagues with 26 relief appearances of at least two innings, the most by an Astros pitcher since Dave Veres had 27 in 1995. Blubaugh also leads the Majors with 84 1/3 innings in relief. Opponents are hitting .200 against his fastball, while left-handed hitters have a .168 batting average against him.

Jose Altuve

Altuve began September six hits away from reaching 2,500 for his career, but the Astros’ offense needs the veteran second baseman to keep producing beyond that milestone. After slumping in June and July, Altuve posted an .813 OPS in August. He was given Monday off, which should be his final day off before the end of the season.

Altuve has settled into the cleanup spot for much of the past month, an important role with Houston’s top three hitters — Jeremy Peña, Alvarez and Isaac Paredes — batting first, second and third on most nights. The Astros’ .223 batting average from the cleanup spot ranks second-worst in MLB.

Carlos Correa

Tuesday will be an important day for Correa. He is scheduled to visit a doctor for a four-month checkup after undergoing peroneus brevis tendon repair surgery on his left ankle May 11.

The injury was initially expected to keep Correa out for the remainder of the season, but he began swinging the bat a month ago. A positive checkup Tuesday would allow him to begin running the bases and sliding, making a return more realistic.

Espada would have to find a way to manage five infielders with Alvarez starting at designated hitter most nights, but that would be a good problem to have. Correa’s presence on the field and in the clubhouse would be enough to energize the club.

Source: www.mlb.com

10/13/2020
Carlos Correa Not Returning for 2026 Season

Houston Astros star third baseman Carlos Correa has officially ended his rehabilitation bid for the 2025 season, manager Joe Espada confirmed Tuesday. The decision comes after Correa experienced renewed soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle during workouts at the team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Espada Prioritizes Long-Term Health Over Late-Season Return

Correa had been progressing toward a potential minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land later this week. However, the increased workload — particularly running the bases in spikes — triggered discomfort that forced the organization to shut down his comeback attempt.

“We’re at a point where we have to be really smart about this,” Espada said. “It’s getting to a point where he wakes up in the morning and just to get him going, it’s tough. We have to be cautious with this guy.”

The manager emphasized that the decision was driven by a need to protect Correa’s long-term availability, especially with the 31-year-old approaching his 32nd birthday on September 22.

“I give him a ton of credit,” Espada said. “He worked his tail off trying to get back this season, and we all knew that there’s a chance for this to flare up on him again. But respect that he tried and did everything he could. But we’ve got to be smart about this and make sure he’s healthy for next season, and that’s the course we’re going to take.”

From Surgery to Near Return: Correa’s Accelerated Timeline

Correa underwent peroneus brevis tendon repair surgery on his left ankle on May 11, with an initial prognosis that he would miss the remainder of the season. His recovery accelerated unexpectedly, and by early August he had been cleared to swing a bat — fueling optimism about a possible return.

The Astros’ surge to first place in the American League West on July 31 added urgency to his rehab. Correa himself expressed confidence in a potential comeback shortly after being cleared to hit.

“I wouldn’t be doing all this work if I didn’t think there was a chance,” Correa said Aug. 1.

He soon began running and taking ground balls, even practicing at second base — a position he had never played professionally — as the coaching staff explored ways to integrate him into the lineup.

Disappointment Tempered by Commitment

Espada acknowledged the emotional weight of the setback, given the sheer volume of effort Correa invested.

“The most disappointing part is how much work he put in to try to get back,” Espada said. “You see a light at the end of the road, and the fact that we couldn’t get past the hours of work, the strain it caused to his ankle during his workouts, it’s sad. But at the same time, Carlos, just the fact he got this close, tells you how much he cares about this team and the organization.”

Correa’s 2025 Production Before Injury

Before the injury, which occurred while swinging in the batting cages, Correa was slashing .279/.369/.418 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 32 games. Since returning to Houston via a trade deadline deal, he posted a .290/.355/.430 line with six homers and 21 RBIs in 51 games, underscoring his offensive value to a club now destined for the postseason without him.

10/13/2020