Shortstop Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros could be back in the line-up earlier than expected.
While Marwin Gonzalez occupies shortstop these days in Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros do not appear to compromise an aggressive batting order. Despite a lineup without Carlos Correa, the Astros continue to lead the AL West Division, and sport .288 a team batting average, tops in the majors.
As Correa continues to rehab from a torn ligament in his left thumb, Gonzalez has stepped in and carried a .314 batting average into Monday’s game with Arizona. Still, the Astros are counting the days until All-Star Correa returns to the lineup.
Suffering that torn ligament in his left thumb in mid-July, the original prognosis was about eight weeks on the DL for Correa.
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Now just about four weeks into the rehab period, Correa is back on the diamond and has resumed baseball activity. At this point, his physical program accelerated Monday at Chase Field, and that’s where the Astros engaged the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of a four-game set. The inital two games are slated for the desert and the remaining two at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
When Correa went down on July 17, the 22-year-old was hitting .320 with 20 homers and 67 RBI. While there is no timetable for his return to the line-up, the progress detected Monday would indicate there is a hastening of the process. On Monday, Correa took 25 swings off the batting tee. As well, he fielded about 60 ground balls.
Anxious to claim his spot in the lineup, Correa told Call to the Pen after the Monday workout that his first day back to full activity was encouraging.
"“Feel great and happy with the way things went,” he said in the Astros clubhouse. “At this point, keep progressing and going forward. “"
Having Correa back in the lineup will benefit the Astros on two levels.
Despite his age and only one full season in the major leagues, Correa is rapidly becoming an elite player. While Gonzalez is hitting over .300, there is no question about Correa’s value to this club. At 6-4, 210 pounds, there is power, bat control and the ability to spray the ball out of the clean-up spot in the batting order.
At the same time, the culture and positive disposition of the Astros make an ideal fit for Correa’s team-oriented personality. Manager A.J. Hinch incorporated a sense of community in the clubhouse, and the camaraderie and character within those walls are conducive to winning. Correa fits directly into this environment.
Before Monday’s game with the Diamondbacks, Hinch pointed out to Call to the Pen that while Correa “was bored on the DL,” there are important factors at work which stress his importance to the team.
"“These are all good guys who care for one another,” Hinch said. “When guys like Correa and George Springer are out of the line-up, it’s like their pride is taken away. They want to get back.”"
For now, Correa is seen with a bat in hand and glove strapped around his wrist. While there is no timetable for return, the forecast looks encouraging.
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From the injury sustained in mid-July, the recovery window would have Correa back in the lineup by mid-September. All indications point that he may be back a little earlier and strengthen an already dangerous, formidable lineup.