Astros manager Joe Espada confirms SS Carlos Correa will not return from ankle injury this season

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed to reporters Tuesday that shortstop Carlos Correa will not return this season. Correa has been sidelined since the beginning of May due to an ankle injury. When the injury occurred, it was expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.

In early August, however, Espada said Correa had been cleared to resume swinging a bat. The shortstop was expected to go out on a rehab assignment in the near future, with a chance to return before the postseason.

Espada said Tuesday that Correa has not suffered a setback or another injury that is preventing him from returning this year. Instead, the manager said the "daily workload" and the "recovery" became too much for the veteran shortstop.

Correa had been cleared for swinging and had begun taking ground balls at second base. Houston was trying to find a way to get him back into the lineup alongside Jeremy Peña at shortstop and Isaac Paredes at third, Correa's typical positions.

Correa initially tore a tendon in his ankle in a freak batting practice accident. Before the injury, he played in 32 games for Houston. The shortstop was slashing .279/.369/.418 with three home runs and 16 RBI.

The 31-year-old veteran is playing on a six-year, $200 million deal that he originally signed with the Minnesota Twins . Minnesota traded him back to Houston ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. The Astros have two more years of Correa on their books, and Houston has four club options between 2029 and 2032.

Correa has a history of ankle injuries. He had two free-agent megadeals with the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets fall through due to concerns about his ankle's health. Those were about his right ankle, though; this torn tendon is in the shortstop's left ankle.

As of Tuesday, Houston has a 75-75 record and a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Correa will now turn his attention to getting fully healthy for the 2027 season.