Twins shortstop Carlos Correa may be taking a trip to the injured list, according to Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli.
Correa, who has missed the past two games with a foot and heel injury, was diagnosed with a muscle strain in the arch of his left foot and plantar fasciitis in his heel after an MRI.
When asked if Correa would hit the injured list, Baldelli was curt.
“I think we get to Friday and some of our decisions might be made for us,” the Twins manager said, per ESPN.
The Twins begin a series with the Blue Jays Friday. It is likely Correa will not be in the lineup. He has struggled this season, hitting .213/.302/.396 with six homers thus far. In early May, Correa brushed off some Minnesota boo-birds, saying “I’d boo myself, too, with the amount of money I’m making if I’m playing like that and I’m in the stands. Obviously [the booing] is acceptable.”
The injury is on Correa’s left side, not the right foot that Giants and Mets doctors were concerned about this offseason.
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How long is Carlos Correa out?
The length of Correa’s absence would depend on the severity of the injury and if he hits the injured list. A trip to the 10-day IL is likely if he is unable to go Friday against the Blue Jays.
If that happens, the earliest Correa could return would be June 1, as his IL stint would likely be backdated to May 23 when he started to miss games.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
What is plantar fasciitis?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, tissue in the foot used during walking and foot movement.”
Plantar fasciitis is a common injury in athletes and can result in sharp, severe pain. It can be caused by a myriad of factors, including a new walking or running routine, the types of shoes being worn, or the surface on which activity is occurring.
Ultimately, the best ways to treat it are to stretch and rest the affected heel.
Why did Carlos Correa’s contracts with Giants and Mets fall through?
The affected foot for Correa is not the one Giants and Mets doctors were concerned about.
Correa and the Giants agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract this offseason that fell through when an issue was found in Correa’s physical. The Giants were concerned about a 2014 injury to Correa’s right ankle, and as they tried to renegotiate, Correa and agent Scott Boras reached a 12-year, $315 million contract with the Mets.
That deal, however, fell through as well and the Mets attempted to renegotiate. Boras and Correa then turned back to the Twins, whom Correa played for last season before opting out after the first of a three-year deal. They came to a six-year, $200 million agreement.
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Carlos Correa injury history
Correa’s lengthy injury history dates back to 2014, when he broke his right fibula, the injury that scared off the Mets and Giants this offseason.
Since then, he has had a myriad of issues over the years.
2014: Correa broke his right fibula sliding into third in the minor leagues, which ended his season and required surgery. This injury has been deemed to be lingering by a few team doctors, and Correa now has a metal plate in his right leg to stabilize it, raising questions about his potential longevity.
2017: Correa injured a thumb ligament during what would eventually be the Astros’ World Series run in 2017. That injury sidelined Correa for 42 games.
2018 and 2019: Correa dealt with a back injury that lingered over the course of two seasons, and kept him out late in 2019. He missed 36 games on the IL in 2018 and parts of August and September in 2019.
2019: Correa also cracked a rib during a massage in 2019, which kept him out for two months.
2023: Correa is diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and a muscle strain in his left foot.