Carlos Correa ‘very encouraged’ by recent progress, hints return to field could come soon
MINNEAPOLIS — Carlos Correa nearly jumped out of his shoes Monday afternoon to provide the most positive update he’s offered about his plantar fasciitis in two months.
Five days after beginning an entirely new course of treatment following the advice of a new, different specialist, one so painful it brings tears to his eyes, Correa is very pleased. He doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, but the Minnesota Twins’ shortstop said a return to the field could occur soon.
ADVERTISING
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, Correa’s update is a burst of much-needed positivity for a reeling Twins team. Word arrived as the team returned home to start a critical six-game homestand with 19 games left in the season and their hold on the final spot in the American League wild-card race dwindling.
“I feel really good,” Correa said. “It’s working and we’re crossing the line, we’re already thinking about the future and it’s exciting. … I was waiting to get to this point so I could push the envelope and this percentage right now, I could play like this, as to where before I couldn’t even walk without pain. But today’s a good day. We’ve come to the right time I feel like. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m very encouraged about the way I’ve been feeling the last few days.”
Out since July 12, Correa’s tried anything and everything to make progress with a right foot that sidelined him in San Francisco before the first half ended. He’s clearly feeling upbeat after making a trip to Los Angeles five days ago to meet with another specialist, at least the second additional opinion he’s sought during a two-month process.
Correa’s body language during a four-minute interview said it all, the $200 million man asking reporters if they wanted an update as he returned to the clubhouse from the field.
For the first time in weeks, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli finally could offer a meaningful update on Correa. Previously, Baldelli knew Correa wasn’t weren’t close enough for him to have reason to discuss his injury recovery.
But after Correa sprinted three times in four days and woke up feeling well the first two times, the Twins think he’s cleared a huge hurdle in the path to a return. Baldelli said Monday the Twins are bringing in four pitchers from Single-A Cedar Rapids this week to throw live batting practice for Correa, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Manny Margot.
“They’re doing pretty well,” Baldelli said. “Frequently, (Correa’s) been getting out there. It’s been good, it’s been positive, so we’re moving I think in the right direction here. … We would only be bringing these guys if we thought it was needed and it’s the right time and our hitters are prepared for it.”
Though the treatment encouraged by the latest specialist is painful, Correa said it’s worthwhile as he looks to rejoin a club with losses in 14 of its past 20 games. As they look to hold off Detroit, Seattle and Boston, the Twins would love nothing better than to insert their All-Star shortstop and Buxton back into the lineup for the stretch run.
Buxton also was upbeat in describing his recovery from right hip inflammation.
Despite the setback he suffered at Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday when the soreness in his hip returned during an at-bat, Buxton is still running the bases. Buxton took fly balls and was scheduled to run again Monday as he prepares to take live batting practice against a group of minor-league pitchers: Spencer Bengard, Jordan Carr, Cleiber Maldonado and Jack Noble.
With one-plus minor-league games played, it’s plausible Buxton could rejoin the Twins without going on another rehab assignment. Since Correa has missed two months, it would seem likelier he might play several rehab games before returning.
“We’re at that point in the season where you’re not going to be at 100 percent,” Buxton said. “Probably won’t be 90 percent. But you get to a point where you can fight through it and get through it. You want to get out there and play. … Where we are is one of those where I don’t want to hurt us by coming back and having to do something different, you know what I mean?”
