Minnesota Twins Hope Carlos Correa Escaped Major Injury

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Carlos Correa injury: Pittsburgh Pirates at Minnesota Twins
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

When the dust settled in Minneapolis Friday night, the Minnesota Twins walked away with their third win in four games and sixth win in their last nine. With two games remaining before the 2025 All-Star Game, the Twins’ overall record now sits at 46-48, 3.5 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot in the American League.

At first glance, last night’s win against the Pittsburgh Pirates looks like it went mostly as planned. Joe Ryan defeated Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes 2-1, thanks to one fourth inning homer via Trevor Larnach.

In front of Target Field’s first sold-out crowd of the season, neither Ryan or Skenes were at their best. Both pitchers — especially Joe, who threw 51 pitches in the first two innings — went just 5 innings and had to battle more than usual.

In the end, Skenes allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs in 5 innings of work. He struck out 6 Twins hitters and walked none, throwing just 78 pitches (53 strikes) and raising his 2025 regular season ERA to 2.01. Skenes’ celebrity girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, was in the house and even made it on the Target Field jumbotron.

Meanwhile, Joe Ryan labored through 5 total innings, but he got better as he went. By the time he was replaced, Ryan gave up 5 hits and allowed the Pirates only run. The 29-year-old first-time All-Star threw 86 pitches (54 strikes), including 5 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Carlos Correa leaves Minnesota Twins game after worrisome injury

But as has often been the case for the Minnesota Twins this season, an injury cloud was hovering above last night’s victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the top of the 7th inning, Tommy Pham was caught trying to stretch a single into a double.

Unfortunately, it was MN Twins shortstop Carlos Correa who paid the higher price, when a sliding Pham’s helmet crashed into the 30-year-old‘s right shin, causing Correa’s surgically repaired ankle to bend in a way that ankles aren’t really supposed to.

Related: Livvy Dunne Gets Celebrity Troll Treatment at Target Field

It’s been well-documented, at this point, just how sensitive Correa’s feet/ankles are. Remember, his previously repaired ankle cost Carlos two contracts worth $200 million each, a couple of offseasons ago. Those failed physicals are the only reason Carlos Correa is still wearing a Minnesota Twins uniform.

Then in 2023, the former No. 1 overall pick missed the final two weeks of September dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. This time last year, after Correa was named to his third career All-Star appearance, he was hit was plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Originally determined to be minor, Correa suffered an early setback in his 2024 recovery process and, after missing most of the second half, he finally found his way back to the field. By then, however, the Twins were all but out of the AL playoff race.

Good news on the Correa injury front

So after Carlos Correa needed to be helped off the field Friday night, fans and media members were rightfully concerned. Thankfully, it sounds like last night’s right ankle pain was more in Correa’s head than it was due to any real damage.

The former Platinum Glove winner was walking around the Minnesota Twins locker room after the game without any protection, laughing and celebrating with teammates. Correa told reporters that he’s fine and wants to play Saturday in game two vs the Pirates. Twins coaches and trainers, aren’t fans of that idea, however.

The vibrations rumbling through his surgically-repaired right leg on Friday night made the Twins shortstop think he sustained a serious injury to his ankle…[after being helped off the field] Correa realized the vibrating sensation was fading, and he could put pressure on his leg once again.

Later in the night, Correa received further good news when X-rays revealed no fracture or structural damage. The Twins ruled Correa out with a mild right ankle sprain.

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

Correa’s injury comes just a couple of days after Byron Buxton had an injury scare of his own, after he was hit in the hand by a pitch vs the Chicago Cubs. He returned to the Twins’ lineup Saturday and still plans to participate in the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.

Minnesota Twins will need Carlos Correa for playoff run

Let’s be real, Carlos Correa’s been playing some of the worst baseball of his professional career through nearly four months of the 2025 regular season. Making $37.3 million this year, Correa is hitting .261 with a brutal .687 OPS and even uglier 88 OPS+.

But there’s no doubt, if the Minnesota Twins are going to make a run at the 2025 MLB Playoffs, it will 100% be fueled by a mad Carlos Correa turnaround, something we’ve seen late in seasons before.

Related: Minnesota Twins Open to Trading Joe Ryan…?

In his first season as a Twin (2022), Correa slashed .355/.412/.589 (1.000 OPS) during the month ofSeptember. One year later (Sep. 2023), he slashed .296/.377/.463 (840 OPS) in the final month of the regular season.

Last September, after missing months with plantar fasciitis, Correa returned to hit .325 with a .960 OPS in Minnesota’s final 11 games. Hint: no matter how he’s played so far, Carlos Correa will turn things around during the second half of the season… as long as he is healthy. Will his team still be relevant by then? That is the question.

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