If Carlos Correa is able to return to the Houston Astros lineup by the end of the regular season, he could play second base, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports.
Correa, who turns 32 on Sept. 22, has been on the injured list since May 6 with a torn tendon in his left ankle that required surgery to repair. His 2026 season was believed to be over, as a result.
However, the 12-year veteran has been progressing well in his recovery and ran the bases earlier this week. The plan is for Correa to take up to 10 at-bats in live batting practice at the Astros’ spring-training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. If he doesn’t deal with any setbacks, Correa could go on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land next week.
In 32 games this season, Correa recorded a .279/.369/.418 slash average with 3 home runs, 8 doubles and 16 RBI. He played 23 games at shortstop and 14 at third base.
Correa has never played second base in his MLB career and has been taking ground balls at third base during his recovery and rehab. Astros manager Joe Espada has said Correa would play at third if he returns. However, the Astros believe their best defensive lineup could include Correa at second base.
In that scenario, Correa would play second, Jeremy Peña would man shortstop and Isaac Paredes would be at third base with Christian Walker playing first and Yordan Alvarez in left field. Jose Altuve would then be the designated hitter.
Another lineup could include Alvarez at DH with Paredes at first, Altuve at second and Correa at third, which would put Walker on the bench. Alvarez did not play in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays and is not in Saturday’s lineup due to a sore right ankle.
After experimenting with moving Altuve to left field last season, the Astros moved him back to second base, where he’s played the majority of his 16 major-league seasons. However, he’s been one of the worst defensive players at that position.
Advanced metrics have credited Altuve with -17 Defensive Runs Saved and -11 Outs Above Average. Both rank last among MLB second basemen who have played at least 840 innings in the field.
Including Saturday, the Astros have 14 games remaining in the regular season. At 75-73, they hold a three-game lead over the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West. If Correa is activated during the season’s final week, Houston plays two games at Seattle then finishes with four games at Sacramento.
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