Carlos Correa, the Houston Astros’ third baseman, was officially cleared this past Tuesday for a critical next step in his recovery, kicking off a late-season push to return to the field. Remember that torn peroneus brevis tendon he got surgery for back in early May? Well, what was initially thought to be a season-ending injury might just be getting flipped on its head.
Correa’s Gearing Up in Florida, But the Real Test Is Ahead
Correa is already claiming he’s sprinting at “95%” right now, which is pretty wild considering everything. He’s been putting in serious work rehabbing in Houston, hitting against a pitching machine and fielding ground balls like a pro. The next move is heading down to the Astros’ minor-league facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend. That’s where he’s going to really crank things up. Correa has said his plan from day one has been to get back on the field this year, so this Florida trip is the true measuring stick to see how his ankle holds up. He’s moving well in side-to-side tests and fielding drills, but the hard stuff is still to come.
The Hurdles That Still Stand Between Correa and the Big Leagues
Even with all this progress, there are still some massive boxes to check before we see Correa back in an Astros uniform. He hasn’t run bases yet, or faced live pitching. Those are two huge steps coming up in Florida. We’re talking about change of direction, hitting and touching bases, sliding, and diving. Plus, he needs to hit the brakes hard on that front foot while hitting, something that’s crucial for any power hitter. Correa knows it, too, saying Florida “will tell us a lot” about his readiness. He thinks he’ll be in Florida for “probably a week and a half, or a week,” and if that goes well, he’d still need a minor-league rehab assignment before even thinking about the majors.
A Potential Postseason Factor? The Astros Are Watching Closely
The timing here is everything. The Astros went into Tuesday with only 24 games left in the regular season. This makes any return a tight squeeze, especially considering the initial season-ending prognosis. But here’s the kicker: the Astros were also leading the American League West by two games over the Rangers, with the tiebreaker in hand. If they make the postseason, that window for Correa could expand significantly. Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged that Correa heading to Florida is “a step closer” and “really encouraging,” but he’s not getting ahead of himself, stressing the need to “check all the boxes.” If Correa does return, Espada is clear: he’s playing third base. Correa himself said he won’t come back just to be a DH, adding, “I don’t think I’m a better DH than Yordan” Alvarez, and he’s only worked defensively at third during his rehab. Isaac Paredes has been holding down third base since Correa’s injury and is a productive hitter for them, so a healthy Correa adds a wild card to the lineup in a huge way. We’ll be watching Florida closely.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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