Daily News 19

Tag: Joe Espada

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

    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.

  • Carlos Correa Not Returning for 2026 Season

    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.