Carlos Correa’s season is officially over. Astros manager Joe Espada announced Tuesday that Correa would not return this year, a tough decision coming after Correa’s intense effort to get back on the field. The infielder, who tore the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle back in May, had even advanced to facing live pitching just last Saturday.
The Unbelievable Comeback Attempt
Carlos Correa was pushing *hard* for a return, way beyond what anyone expected. After tearing his peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle back in May, the initial word from the Astros was a brutal six-to-eight-month recovery time, basically shutting him down for the season. But Correa refused to accept that. By August 1, he was already publicly saying he wasn’t ruling out a comeback. Then, just last Saturday, the guy was facing live pitching for the first time since his surgery! He was crushing it too, hitting well, seeing the ball great, and even running the bases at the Astros’ minor-league facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., with “nothing bothering” him. He felt so incredible, he literally asked if he could rejoin the team for their series in Tampa Bay.
Reality Hits Hard, Doctor Delivers the Blow
But as always, reality hits like a fastball to the ribs. Correa woke up the very next morning, and that ankle was “really sore.” Talk about a gut punch after feeling so good. A subsequent MRI confirmed the worst, with the doctor delivering the blunt truth: his surgically repaired tendon “wasn’t mature enough.” The doctor didn’t mince words, telling Correa that pushing through, even at the 90 percent he’d reached in rehab, could severely risk his ankle not being fully recovered for the start of the entire 2027 season. He hadn’t even started sliding into bases or making diving plays in practice, so the potential for a catastrophic setback in a real game was massive. As Correa himself put it, he can at least go to sleep at night knowing he absolutely gave it his best shot.
This shutdown decision, which Correa described as “really tough,” was absolutely the right call for his long-term health and the future of his career. His priority now is letting that ankle tendon fully heal, which means no hitting for the next several months and a complete halt to workouts involving change of direction. The good news in all this is that the doctor believes the tendon should be “100 percent” in just two months. So, while 2026 is officially done and dusted for Carlos Correa, this cautious approach ensures he’ll have a clear path to be completely ready for next season, avoiding a lingering issue that could have derailed him for years. What a tough break, but smart for the future.
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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