Corporan returns from three-week DL stint

SEATTLE -- Three weeks after he suffered a concussion when he was struck in the facemask by a foul tip, Astros catcher Carlos Corporan was activated from the disabled list Monday and started in the series opener against the Mariners at Safeco Field.

Corporan, the Astros' primary backup catcher all season, played in three rehab games at Double-A Corpus Christi, catching seven innings Saturday without any problems. He's hitting .245 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 50 games entering Monday.

"I thought it was going to be seven days and that was it," Corporan said of his timetable to return to the lineup. "It was one week with symptoms, another trying to get ready and the other to do my rehab. I thought that it was not going to be that serious, but after I got hit and started getting my symptoms it was really scary."

The Astros are going to be cautious with Corporan going forward. Manager Bo Porter said the trainers are prepared to visit with him if he takes another foul ball off his mask.

"Lord willing that's not the case and he's able to catch the whole game and be OK," Porter said.

Corporan left Corpus Christi impressed with the talent the Astros have stockpiled at their Double-A affiliate, which was eliminated from the Texas League playoffs on Sunday.

"Those guys play hard," he said. "I'm telling you, those guys know what they're doing and they've got a good group of young guys waiting for the opportunity to come here and perform."

All-Star Jason Castro and Corporan handled the Astros' catching duties until Aug. 19 when a rash of injuries forced the Astros to call up Max Stassi -- who suffered a concussion Aug. 21 -- and Cody Clark and then trade for Matt Pagnozzi. Castro hasn't caught since Sept. 2 because of a cyst in his right knee.

"The rash of injuries we suffered at the catching position, it happens so fast you don't realize how much you miss Corpy, especially once Castro ended up going down as well," Porter said.