HOUSTON — Astros third baseman Carlos Correa suffered what is believed to be a serious left ankle injury during pregame batting practice on Tuesday, a league source told The Athletic, dealing a devastating blow to an already injury-ravaged team.
Correa will visit a foot specialist on Wednesday morning to determine the exact diagnosis and severity of the injury. He was scratched from Tuesday’s 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers with what the Astros described as a left ankle injury.
Losing Correa for any time would cripple a club that can ill afford any more attrition. Houston already has 14 players on the injured list, including ace Hunter Brown, closer Josh Hader, shortstop Jeremy Peña and starting catcher Yainer Diaz. Diaz is expected to be out “a while” with a strained left oblique he suffered during batting practice on Monday, manager Joe Espada said.
Correa has a .787 OPS across his first 141 plate appearances and is the unquestioned leader of Houston’s clubhouse.
Among qualified Astros hitters, only Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker have a higher batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage than Correa, who has served as Houston’s leadoff hitter in Peña’s absence.
A shortstop throughout his career, Correa moved to third base last August after the Astros acquired him from the Minnesota Twins. He did so, in part, to lessen the wear and tear on his body while preparing for the back half of his career. Missing Peña for the last two weeks has forced Correa to play more shortstop.
Correa’s checkered injury history is no secret.
In 2022, concerns about Correa’s surgically-repaired right ankle caused both the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets to void $300 million free-agent agreements with him.
Now, an ailment to Correa’s left ankle looms as a catastrophic blow to a ballclub in dire straits. Houston is seven games below .500 and boasts the sport’s worst pitching staff, putting pressure on an offense that has exceeded every preseason expectation.
Peña is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend and could return to the active roster shortly thereafter. When he does, it will help to mitigate Correa’s absence. So will the presence of Isaac Paredes, whom the Astros dangled in trade talks throughout the winter, but are now relieved to still have on their roster.
For however long Correa is out, Paredes should reprise his role as Houston’s everyday third baseman — a position Correa overtook upon his return.
