Carlos Correa's return is in sight, and the Astros could be getting their All-Star shortstop back before the end of the 2026 season. Correa has been cleared to start swinging a bat again as of Tuesday, more than three months after tearing a tendon in his left ankle back in early May. He'll reportedly start with dry swings before progressing to tee work and further steps from there. There's no firm return timeline yet, and no confirmation he'll actually make it back into the lineup, but this clearance is a real sign he might not be out as long as originally expected. He was initially ruled out for the rest of the season, but that could be changing. Correa tore a tendon in his left ankle, specifically a peroneus brevis tendon injury, while taking swings in the cage. He's been sidelined since early May and underwent surgery on May 11. He was originally given a six-to-eight-month recovery timeline, a devastating outcome for both the team and Correa himself, but he's been determined to beat the odds and get back before the season ends. He remains on the 60-day IL as of now, with his expected return currently listed as "possibly 2026," per MLB [https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-injuries-and-roster-moves]. Before the injury, Correa was hitting .279/.369/.418 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI across 32 games and 141 plate appearances. He added 22 runs scored, a stolen base, and an 18-to-26 walk-to-strikeout ratio, per FOX Sports [https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/carlos-correa-player]. Correa was drafted No. 1 overall by Houston in 2012. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and is a three-time All-Star. He was part of the 2017 World Series-winning core, but left for Minnesota on a three-year deal worth $105.3 million, opting out after one year. He nearly signed record contracts with the Giants, a reported 13 years and $350 million, and the Mets, a reported 12 years and $315 million, both of which fell through over concerns about his ankle health, per Yahoo Sports [https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/astros-ss-carlos-correa-to-resume-swinging-a-bat-as-he-works-back-from-torn-ankle-tendon-170236603.html]. He then returned to Minnesota on a six-year, $200 million deal before coming back to Houston in 2025, where he was welcomed back with open arms. If his recovery continues without setbacks, Correa could be back late in the season or even provide a postseason boost. Given his ankle history, both sides will likely take a cautious approach either way.
