The Minnesota Twins have been in a freefall over the past couple of weeks. Rocco Baldelli had enough on Sunday, following a sweep against the Kansas City Royals. They need their star players back, but Carlos Correa isn’t expected any time soon . When he does return, where exactly he will play may now be in question as well.
A new position for Carlos Correa when he rejoins the Twins?
He isn’t expected to be 100%, when he does retake the field , and that could impact his mobility on the diamond. Thus, rather than playing shortstop, the Twins are pondering a temporary move to 3rd base. Falvey even admitted to WCCO Radio recently that they “don’t want to rule anything out”.
The Twins are planning for Correa to play shortstop, but they haven’t ruled out a move to third base if his range is limited upon his potential return. The Twins had Royce Lewis start one game at second base in the past week.
“We’ve talked about that certainly, and we’re not ruling that out because we don’t want to rule anything out,” Derek Falvey , the Twins president of baseball operations, told WCCO last week.
Star Tribune
Across the 1,098 games he has played in his career , Correa has never started anywhere but shortstop. He was willing to move to third with the New York Mets as they have Francisco Lindor playing shortstop. Presumably this would be a short-term change related only to the foot injury.
Minnesota’s infield gets complicated, if Correa is playing third base. That would shift both Jose Miranda and Royce Lewis, which may be an underlying reason as to why Lewis has been playing at second base .
Related: 5 Minnesota Twins Hitters We Trust Most in the Clutch
Ultimately, the Twins need Correa to simply get back on the field. He isn’t going to feel his best, but even a portion of what he brings to the table is necessary for a desperate lineup, like Minnesota’s currently is.
The longer he stays out of action, alongside Byron Buxton , the more perilous Minnesota’s outlook gets. This team needs its leader actually leading. A lot still has to happen for the Twins to fall out of postseason position, which is all the more reason for Correa to get back on the field ASAP.
Progress means little for Minnesota Twins Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa has been on the shelf for months. The Minnesota Twins placed their All-Star on the injured list during the All-Star Break. His latest bout with plantar fasciitis has kept him there.
A lengthy absence never seemed to be part of the equation. The veteran only wants to return only once he reaches a certain threshold. Recent days have been encouraging, but his return is not imminent.
The Twins return to Target Field for a six-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds. Correa won’t partake in those contests. Rocco Baldelli recently spoke with Star Tribune beat writer Bobby Nightengale Jr .
“We still have a ways to go. We’ll see if we can build on that and keep moving in a positive direction. That’s good news. We will absolutely take that, but we want — even if it’s slow steps — steady, positive steps would be exactly what we’re hoping for right now. We’ll see how it all adds up as we get into the middle of the month.”
Rocco Baldelli on Carlos Correa’s return (Star Tribune)
Given how long Correa has been inactive he will almost certainly need a rehab assignment. The St. Paul Saints are on the road in Columbus this week before returning home on the 17th . The six games against Indianapolis are their final contests of the season, and would be a final opportunity for Correa to get game action. Correa did speak with reporters on Monday afternoon, and he appears more positive than he has in some time.
Minnesota bringing in arms from Cedar Rapids, who finished their season over the weekend, gives hitters an opportunity for live at bats without playing for the Saints. Neither Correa or Byron Buxton have been big fans of rehab assignments. This plan allows them to see live pitching and avoid a road trip to Columbus.
Related: Correa’s Injury Process is a Frustrating Waiting Game for Twins
The shortstop has suggested he wants to return this year , but he isn’t inclined to play through the injury as he did last season. His production was significantly hampered by the injury in 2023, and that’s not something he seems inclined to entertain again.
When he returns, Correa will do so with a belief that he can be the version named an All-Star before he went down.
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