The Twins will formally activate shortstop Carlos Correa from the 10-day injured listing previous to right now’s recreation with the Reds. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. shall be optioned to Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.
It has been over two months since Correa final appeared in Minnesota’s lineup, because the three-time All-Star has been sidelined by plantar fasciitis in his proper foot. Correa performed by way of an identical harm in his left foot final season and (not coincidentally) struggled by way of the worst full season of his 10 years within the majors, so each the shortstop and the Twins appeared intent on letting Correa absolutely heal up earlier than getting again to motion.
Although Correa initially said that this present harm wasn’t as painful as his 2023 plantar fasciitis, the discomfort has continued to linger till this previous week, when Correa instructed MLB.com and different media {that a} new therapy methodology had allowed him to stroll and run on his proper heel. He took half in a reside batting apply session on Friday and emerged feeling ok that the Twins at the moment are snug in making a roster transfer.
After his down yr in 2023, Correa rebounded in an enormous method with considered one of his finest seasons. The shortstop has 13 dwelling runs and a .308/.377/.520 slash line over 317 plate appearances, and had been named to the All-Star staff earlier than his plantar fasciitis prevented him from collaborating within the Midsummer Basic. Amongst all gamers with 300 or extra PA, solely 11 gamers have a better wRC+ than Correa’s 152 mark.
Byron Buxton additionally has a 142 wRC+ in 339 PA this season, and the slugger was simply activated off Minnesota’s IL on Thursday. Evidently, the returns of Buxton and Correa are an unlimited enhance to a struggling Twins membership that has misplaced 16 of its final 24 video games. Minnesota nonetheless holds a 2.5-game lead over the Tigers for the final AL wild card slot, and the Twins might revive their possibilities on the AL Central title after they go to the first-place Guardians for an enormous four-game collection that begins on Monday.
Max Kepler is perhaps activated from the injured listing for that collection in Cleveland, as Kepler (out since September 5 resulting from patellar tendinitis in his left knee) joined Correa within the reside BP session on Friday. Some reinforcements may be coming later in early October on the pitching aspect, as Chris Paddack had a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday as he recovers from a left forearm pressure. It has additionally been two months on the shelf for Paddack, however he instructed the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale Jr. and different reporters that he’s aiming to be prepared for reduction work throughout the postseason.
