Astros infielder Carlos Correa says doctor halted his comeback attempt after ankle surgery

By: Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press Posted: 6:42 PM CDT Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa’s attempt to return this year from ankle surgery ended when his doctor said it could put the Houston Astros infielder in jeopardy of not being ready for the start of next season.

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“He told me, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with this,’ and he pretty much said I’m not going to play,” Correa explained Friday.

Houston manager Joe Espada announced Tuesday that Correa would not return this season. Friday was the first time Correa addressed the decision with reporters.

Houston Astros' Carlos Correa walks to the dugout after fielding ground balls before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Correa had been working to make a comeback after undergoing left ankle surgery on May 11 that was expected to keep him out six to eight months.

He participated in live batting practice and thought he might be able to rejoin the Astros last weekend when they played Tampa Bay. Instead, he began to feel very sore and experienced inflammation in his ankle for two to three days.

“I got an MRI,” he said. “The doctor said the tendon wasn’t mature enough and that’s all that happened. He told me that he didn’t feel comfortable with me pushing to play.”

Correa said it was difficult that his comeback attempt fell short after all the work he put in over the last four months.

“I was here every day from the moment that they took my boot off and I had in my mind to come back and play and be there with the boys again,” he said. “So just to hear that news, obviously not what I wanted to hear, but I can go to sleep at night knowing that I tried my best.”

Correa said he’ll get another MRI in two months and he expects to be 100% at that time and then ready for the start of spring training with no limitations.

For now, though, he’s pulling back on his workouts. He won’t hit for the next month and his doctor doesn’t want him doing anything “that is going to make me turn my foot over” for the time being.

Correa is back with the Astros after last summer’s blockbuster trade from the Minnesota Twins. He played third base for Houston last season, with Jeremy Peña at shortstop. Before his injury this season, Correa returned to shortstop while Peña was out with a hamstring injury.

Correa was hitting .279 with three home runs and 16 RBIs this season. The No. 1 pick in the 2012 amateur draft, Correa spent his first seven seasons with the Astros before signing with the Twins, where he spent 3 1/2 seasons before last summer’s trade.

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