Houston Astros' Carlos Correa cleared for important next step in rehab, but hurdles still remain

Third baseman Carlos Correa was cleared Tuesday to take a significant next step in his attempt to return to the Houston Astros this year from ankle surgery.

Correa, who had surgery in early May for a torn peroneus brevis tendon, had a doctor's appointment Tuesday at which he was cleared to increase his baseball activities. The plan is for Correa to report to the Astros ' minor-league facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., this weekend to begin that ramp-up.

"From the moment I had the surgery, my plan has always been to try to get back and play this year," Correa said Tuesday. "So now that we're going to ramp up for real and see how the foot's going to respond, this will be a real test for us to see if we can come back and play."

Correa has increased his activity over the past month while rehabbing in Houston . He is hitting against a pitching machine, taking ground balls and sprinting at "95%" at this point, he said.

Correa has not run bases or faced live pitching, two significant hurdles that would be part of his program in Florida. He will not be playing in games there immediately, as there are still boxes he must check.

"It's going to be change of direction, it's going to be the bases, touching the bases, it's going to be the sliding part, the diving part," Correa said. "It's going to be adjusting to certain pitches, hitting the brakes on that front foot. So, Florida will tell us a lot."

In Houston, Correa said he has been "moving pretty well" in side-to-side tests and fielding grounders. He estimated he could stay in Florida "probably a week and a half, or a week, and depending on how it goes we're going to move forward." If the work in Florida goes well, Correa said he would still require a minor-league rehab assignment to play in games before possibly returning to the majors.

The Astros entered Tuesday with 24 games left in the regular season, creating the question of whether a return for Correa, whose surgery was initially thought to be season-ending , is viable. The window could expand if the Astros reach the postseason. They entered Tuesday with a two-game lead in the American League West over the Rangers, plus the tiebreaker over Texas .

Correa said "we're weighing all the options" when asked if his returning solely for a potential postseason run is a possibility. Astros manager Joe Espada cautioned against looking too far ahead regarding Correa, but he acknowledged that Correa going to Florida is "a step closer for him to getting back."

"We've still got to make sure that we check all the boxes, (gauge with) the time he spends on his feet and moving around how he bounces back," Espada said. "But this is really encouraging."

A potential return by Correa also creates intrigue in how Houston would adjust. Espada said if Correa can return: "He'll play third base." Correa said he would not return if limited to hitting as: "I don't think I'm a better DH than Yordan" Alvarez.

Correa said he has worked defensively only at third base in his rehab. Houston reinstalled Isaac Paredes as its regular third baseman after Correa's injury, and Paredes has been its third-most productive hitter by OPS-plus after shortstop Jeremy Peña and Alvarez.

Keeping Paredes in the lineup would remain a priority if Correa returns. Paredes has played at both first base, where Christian Walker is stationed, and second base, where Jose Altuve has played exclusively in the field this season. Espada said he has not "gotten that far" regarding possible roster adjustments.