Minnesota Twins Pave Way for Carlos Correa to Return

The Minnesota Twins — who have won 14 of their last 16 games — are coming off of a split two-game, rain soaked series against division rival Cleveland. On Friday, after a day off, they will welcome another AL Central foe, the Kansas City Royals, to Target Field for what they hope will be a much dryer three-game set.

Unfortunately for career minor leaguers (OF) Ryan Fitzgerald and (UF) Mickey Gasper, they will not be around when the Royals roll in this weekend. They no longer have Thursday night off, either.

Twins send Ryan Fitzgerald, Mickey Gasper down to Triple A

Instead, Fitzgerald (30 y/o) and Gasper (29 y/o) will be across the river, in St. Paul, playing for the Triple-A Saints, after both players were sent back to the minors this afternoon. Prior to Thursday’s roster move, the Minnesota Twins active roster had been expanded to 27 players, due to their doubleheader Wednesday. After the moves, the 26-man roster sits at just 25.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/ZTRie5zhaK

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 22, 2025

Most likely, the Twins wanted both Gasper and Fitzgerald available for the Saints today, thus why they pulled the demotion trigger early on both guys. Ryan Fitzgerald — who was called up for his MLB debut — played in two games and got three at-bats, while up with the Minnesota Twins. He scored one run, but did not record a hit or strikeout.

Gasper has not seen the MLB field since May 2. He was called up as the Twins’ 27th man for the doubleheader, but never saw the field. Gasper hit .176 (.488 OPS) with 4 walks and 3 RBI in 17 big league games prior to that early May demotion. Since being sent down.

The 29-year-old utility man has been crushing Triple A pitching, putting out a .333 batting average (1.170 OPS with 7 triples, 5 doubles and 15 RBI, in the same exact 17 games. How about that for a turnaround…

Carlos Correa set to return to Minnesota Twins active roster

According to multiple reports, the corresponding roster move that’ll eventually put the MN Twins back at 26 active players is expected to (eventually) be the activation of Carlos Correa off the 7-day concussion list. Why the delay? C4 is not eligible to return until Friday, per MLB concussion protocol.

#MNTwins option Ryan Fitzgerald to Triple-A St. Paul and returned 27th man Mickey Gasper. Both playing tonight.

No corresponding move today but it’s safe to say Carlos Correa is expected to return for Friday’s game against Kansas City.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) May 22, 2025

On Wednesday, reports broke that Correa was feeling much better, and that he had mostly passed all tests and protocols, even resuming baseball activities. Thus, today’s news isn’t surprising. The question now becomes… what Carlos Correa will we see step back into the batter’s box on Friday?

Related: Royce Lewis is Back and Better Than Ever… on Defense

That’s the question, because prior to his collision with Byron Buxton, which caused both players’ concussions, the 30-year-old former top 5 MVP candidate was just starting to dig himself out of the .236 BA, .605 OPS, 69 OPS+ hole he had dug himself into, to start the 2025 season.

Speaking of Buck, Hayes is being told by Minnesota Twins trainers that he too is “trending in the right direction”.

Everything Nick Paparesta said about Carlos Correa on Weds was positive. Concussion symptoms were gone after he’d performed a bunch of baseball activity. He said Byron Buxton also is trending the right direction, but was a step behind Correa. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) May 22, 2025