Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa has long been recognized as one of the premier shortstops in baseball. He is a past Rookie of the Year winner, a two-time All-Star, and a Gold Glove recipient. He is a team leader and a great clubhouse guy, and he represents himself professionally and humbly in the community. What’s not to like?
But there are some patterns to his performance that are hard to ignore. These patterns may indicate that he has transitioned from being a great player to a good one, from an elite one to an above-average one.
A Star is Born in Houston
When Carlos Correa entered the league in 2015, he was an immediate star. As a 20-year-old for the Astros, he crushed 22 home runs and drove in 68 runs in only 99 games played. He was named the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year for his efforts.
Over the next two seasons, he had a combined total of 44 homers and 180 RBIs. He was named to his first All-Star game at age 22. Next, he suffered through a couple of injury-plagued years and the pandemic season. All of this was just a warmup to a crowning performance in 2021.
Take a Bow Carlos Correa
Correa would put it all together during the 2021 season. He hit 26 dingers, drove in 92 runs, and scored 105 times. He would go on to his second All-Star game, win a Gold Glove, and finish fifth in the AL MVP balloting.
Teamwise, the Astros won the American League pennant but lost 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. These, however, would be the last games that Carlos Correa would play in a Houston Astros uniform.
Headed to Minnesota
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After the season, the Astros declined to meet his salary demands, and he became a free agent. Despite being the top shortstop on the market, he did not sign a contract with a new team until March. The Minnesota Twins inked him to a three-year, $105 million contract, with an option to opt-out after season one.
He struggled in the first half of the season, partially due to a stint on the injured list with a right middle finger contusion. He also missed some time when he was placed on the COVID injured list on May 31.
But he came alive in the last month of the season when he batted .355 with 7 home runs and 19 RBIs. His home run total of 26 would place him second on the team behind Byron Buxton’s 28. And only Jose Miranda would drive in more runs with 66, besting Correa by two.
Correa Headed to Both Coasts?
To the surprise of no one, Correa exercised his opt-out option after one season with the Twins, and soon, there was an East Coast—West Coast battle to secure his services. Finally, on December 13, the San Francisco Giants signed him to a 13-year, $350 million contract, which made him the highest-paid shortstop in Major League baseball history.
However, there was one small hitch in the agreement. Correa was unable to pass the Giants’ physical due to a bum ankle. The agreement was voided, but soon, the New York Mets came calling. Mets owner Steve “Daddy Warbucks” Cohen jumped in and inked Correa to a 12-year, $315 million deal.
But once again, he failed the medical examination, and Cohen backed out of the agreement. To their credit, the Twins were prepared for this contingency. They swooped in and signed Correa to a six-year, $200 million contract.
Correa Underwhelms the Twins
Unfortunately, Correa battled a plantar fasciitis injury throughout the 2023 campaign. He finished the year hitting .230, with 18 homers, and drove in 65 runs. These totals were well below his career averages, But like the true pro that he is, he stepped up his game and had an excellent postseason, including contributing two incredible defensive plays that kept the Twins’ pennant hopes alive.
2024 Brings Disappointment
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Coming off their playoff run last season and with an abundance of talent, the Twins were boldly optimistic about their 2024 season and beyond. And Twins’ fans couldn’t wait to see what a healthy Carlos Correa could produce over the course of an entire campaign.
Then there was a loud thump. Royce Lewis got hurt on opening day, the pitching has been inconsistent, and the bats have fallen silent. Correa, who started the season with so much enthusiasm, is now batting .261, with five home runs and 24 RBIs. Respectable totals, to be sure, but not the output they expected from their $30 million a year shortstop.
Those Darn Patterns
And about those patterns we mentioned earlier. Correa has now settled into statistical totals on average of a .260 batting average, 20 home runs, and 65 RBLs. His fielding is still a plus, but it is no longer at a Gold Glove level. And he has produced dismal to below-average results during the first half of the season for three years in a row.
He has ceased being the best everyday ballplayer in the lineup with the return of Lewis. And with Correa turning 30 in September, the odds of those patterns improving are almost nonexistent.
About the Author
Greg Simbeck is an experienced writer, editor, and content manager who covers a variety of sports for Total Apex Sports. He specializes in MLB coverage. Greg has covered various sports for numerous other publications over the years.
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