After a flat road trip and a disheartening sweep by the Royals, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli delivered a stern talk to his team, shutting the clubhouse doors and addressing the lackluster performance. His players welcomed the tough love, recognizing it as a necessary wake-up call.
Upon returning to Target Field on Monday, the Twins’ clubhouse was infused with renewed energy, thanks in large part to Carlos Correa. The injured shortstop, who has been sidelined for nearly two months due to plantar fasciitis, exuded a new level of confidence and intensity.
“I think we’re moving forward very soon,” Correa said. “It means you might see me playing baseball again very soon.”
Correa recently began a new, unspecified treatment for his injury after consulting a doctor in Los Angeles. Though he declined to give specifics, he reported significant improvement in his condition. For the first time in months, Correa feels ready to return to the field, having endured considerable pain during his recovery.
He shared that he had been sprinting on three of the previous four days, and each morning felt a marked difference, suggesting that the new treatment is effective. Correa described the treatment as painful but indicated that it is yielding positive results.
“We finally discovered a treatment that was very painful, to the point of bringing tears to my eyes,” Correa said. “But it’s working, and we’re crossing the line. We’re already thinking about the future, and it’s exciting.”
Correa mentioned that while he still needs to finalize details with the team, he has a tentative return timeline in mind, noting that the timing feels right.
With the Minor League Class A season concluded, manager Rocco Baldelli announced that four pitchers from Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers—Spencer Bengard, Jordan Carr, Cleiber Maldonado, and Jack Noble—will come to Target Field. They will pitch to Correa, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Manuel Margot to help them stay sharp and face live pitching.
This step may lead to rehab assignments for Correa and Buxton, with the Twins preparing for a crucial four-game series against the first-place Guardians starting next Monday.
“I think the more pitches they see, the better prepared they’ll be when the time comes,” Baldelli said. “There may be a rehab assignment following this, but getting them out there against professional arms is a good step.”
Buxton has also been running and participated in fielding drills for the first time since experiencing a flare-up of soreness in his right hip. He acknowledged feeling more discomfort than expected in his last rehab game but remains optimistic about managing his condition.
“I don’t want to hurt us by coming back and having to do something different,” Buxton said. “I just want to come back and be my normal self, so the team feels comfortable putting me back in the lineup every day.”
As the Twins strive to turn their season around, Correa’s potential return could provide a much-needed boost.
“It’s really tough watching from home when they’re on the road,” Correa said. “It’s been hard to see us lose games we should win. It’s tough to see the team struggle and not be there to encourage them. It’s normal to have ups and downs, but it’s how we react that can make us better.”
