Carlos Correa wanted to return, but his ankle wasn't ready. He explains the 'really tough' shutdown

How close did Carlos Correa come to rejoining the Houston Astros this season? Correa said Friday that in the final stages of his buildup from ankle tendon surgery, he asked about possibly being activated during the Astros’ series last weekend at Tampa Bay.

Correa, who tore the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle in May, had advanced to taking live batting practice and running the bases at the Astros’ minor-league facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. The infielder faced live pitching last Saturday for the first time since his surgery.

Friday, Correa said that session went well enough that: “I was asking if I could join the team in Tampa.”

“I had a live BP where I hit really well and I was seeing the ball really well and I ran the bases and nothing was bothering me,” Correa said. “And then when I woke up the next morning, I was like, ‘oh, this is why they told me to wait until the next day.’ I was very hopeful, I was feeling great, I was in great baseball shape. Just the tendon was not where it needed to be yet.”

For the next two or three days, Correa said, his ankle was “really sore.” After a subsequent MRI, a doctor told Correa his surgically repaired tendon “wasn’t mature enough,” he said. On Tuesday, Astros manager Joe Espada announced Correa would not return this year and instead focus on being healthy for 2027.

Correa said Friday that the doctor told him attempting to play again this year could put him at risk of his ankle not being fully recovered for the start of next season.

“He couldn’t guarantee me the fact that, pushing through when it might not be ready, nothing would happen on the field,” Correa said. “I was not sliding into bases yet, I was not making diving plays yet, I was not going 100 percent on the bases yet. I think we got up to, like, 90 percent.

“He said that it’s better for me to let the tendon mature and get to where we needed to be in order for me to be 100 percent for next year. And that was the decision we ended up making.”

That Correa even reached the point he did in his comeback attempt was unexpected. Initially, Correa and the Astros said his surgery had a projected six-to-eight-month recovery time and would end his season.

However, Correa progressed in his rehab to where he said on Aug. 1 he was not ruling out the idea of playing again this year. Though the Astros are playing the penultimate week of the season, a possible playoff berth might have extended Correa’s window to return and make an impact.

The decision to shut down his comeback attempt was “really tough,” Correa said on Friday at Daikin Park.

“Just to hear that news, obviously not what I wanted to hear,” Correa said. “But I can go to sleep at night knowing I tried my best, I gave everything I had. And if it was not God’s plan for me to play this year, I will accept that and I’ll move on and be ready for next year.”

With a return ruled out, Correa’s priority in coming weeks will be letting the ankle tendon heal fully. He said he won’t hit for the next months and his workouts will not include change of direction. Correa said the doctor told him the tendon should be “100 percent” in two months.

Correa, reacquired by Houston from the Twins at last year’s trade deadline, is signed through 2028 on a deal that includes club options for each season from 2029-32, giving both parties an interest in his long-term health and durability.

Correa, who turns 32 next week, posted a .279/.369/.418 slash line across 32 games this season before tearing the ankle tendon in pre-game hitting May 5. He moved to third base upon rejoining the Astros and also played his natural shortstop position early this year with Jeremy Peña sidelined by injury.

While it was reported last week that the Astros were considering giving Correa playing time at second base if he returned this year, Correa said Friday the team did not ask him to take grounders at second while in Florida. He sounded open-minded about his defensive position for next year.

“I’m ready to play third, second, short, first – wherever they need me, I’ll be ready,” Correa said. “Whatever the needs of the team are. I know I can adapt to be a really great defender at any base. I just want to be in the lineup, I just want to be on a winning team, and we have that.”

The Astros’ full infield – first baseman Christian Walker, second baseman Jose Altuve, Peña, Correa and third baseman Isaac Paredes – is signed or under team control for 2027. Houston may need to confront that surplus in the offseason, with the anticipation of regaining a fully healthy Correa.

“Throughout the ramp-up process I was feeling great, I learned a lot about myself and my body and my routine and I was taking it a step further in my preparation,” Correa said. “So, I’m excited for next year.”

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This article originally published at Carlos Correa wanted to return, but his ankle wasn’t ready. He explains the ‘really tough’ shutdown.