HOUSTON -- While the Astros look to upgrade their roster ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline, veteran shortstop Carlos Correa said Saturday he hasn’t ruled out a return to the field this season.
Correa, who underwent peroneus brevis tendon repair surgery on his left ankle on May 11, began working out on the field before Friday’s game against the Rangers at Daikin Park, which the Astros won, 11-2, to move into first place in the American League West. Correa was facing a six- to eight-month recovery and was initially ruled out for the season, but he’s progressed much quicker.
“I wouldn’t be doing all this work if I didn’t think there was a chance [to return],” he said.
Correa said he’s been “doing everything but hitting,” including running and sprinting at about 80 or 90 percent intensity. He said he has a doctor’s appointment Tuesday to determine whether he can resume hitting, which is how he injured his ankle three months ago. He was in the batting cage prior to the May 5 game against the Dodgers and felt a pop in his ankle while taking a swing and dropped to the ground.
“As soon as I got hurt, I got on this protocol and I started looking for all the information I could and how to speed up the process and the things I needed to eat and how I needed to sleep, the type of treatment we needed,” Correa said. “We’ve been doing a great job with that. We’re in a good spot.”
Correa, who was reacquired by the Astros at the 2025 Trade Deadline from the Twins, was slashing .279/.369/.418 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 32 games before he was injured. Correa’s was one of a handful of key injuries that played a role in Houston’s 20-31 start, but the club has gone 36-24 since to take over first place.
“The way we’ve been playing lately definitely motivates me even more to put in the work and try to get back,” he said. “We’ll take it day by day.”
Correa has been staying involved with the team while he’s been on the injured list by attending team hitting meetings remotely post-surgery. Now that he’s back to working out with the team on the field, he’s energized about a return.
“You’ve got to stay close to everything, and the way we’ve been pitching, the way we’ve been swinging the bats, the at-bats, the long innings, it’s fun to watch, man,” he said. “That’s the brand of baseball we want to play.”
Correa slashed .290/.355/.430 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 51 games for the Astros in 2025 after the Deadline move. He was the No. 1 overall pick by Houston in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Puerto Rico and blossomed into a star and a franchise icon in Houston, leading the Astros to six trips to the playoffs, including three American League pennants and the 2017 World Series championship.
Correa signed with the Twins after the 2021 season -- a season in which he won a Gold Glove and finished fifth in AL MVP voting -- but had waived his no-trade clause to return to Houston, where he makes his home.