When is the last time a professional athlete tore something and it was good news? That’s the case, apparently, with Minnesota Twins $300 million shortstop Carlos Correa, who according to the team trainer could be better off now that he’s suffered something called a full thickness tear of the central cortex of his plantar fascia.
That sounds awful, but it’s potentially good news for Correa, who said he is “very confident’ he’ll be in the lineup when the Twins open the playoffs in early October. Minnesota’s magic number to clinch the AL Central Division is two after defeating the Reds 5-3 Wednesday.
“I’m very confident,” Correa told reporters Wednesday. “Very confident. It will take a lot for me not to play in those games. They’re way too meaningful and they’re way too important not only for the organization, but also for myself. Yeah, I’m confident I’ll be there.”
Twins head trainer Nick Paparesta spoke with media before Wednesday’s game and said Correa’s full tear of the fascia, which connects the heel to the toes, is an injury that other MLBers have had and it has led to less discomfort in the foot.
Correa has been dealing with plantar fasciitis since May and he suffered the full tear while fielding a pop up in the outfield grass during Minnesota’s game against the Reds on Monday night. He’s been placed on the injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, and will be eligible to return for the final regular season series next weekend against Colorado.
“When I’ve talked to the players who had it before, they say once it tore for them, they got better and they didn’t feel it again,” Correa said. “I’m hopeful that’s the case for me, and it’s a one-and-done type of thing only this year.”
The players Correa named included Reds infielder Jonathan India, who went on the injured list in late July with plantar fasciitis. He then suffered a full tear during a rehab exercise, delaying his return. But when all was said and done, he missed a total of 42 days.
That said, it took him about a month to get back on the field after suffering the full tear. Correa will be attempting to get back on the field within two weeks. Can Correa get back on the field that fast and if so, will be playing at his highest level when the games matter most?
