Twins Should Prioritize Resting Carlos Correa Down the Stretch

[Cody Schoenmann]

With the Twins holding a sizeable lead over the rest of the AL Central, their focus will likely soon shift to maximizing player's health and ability for the playoffs. The player at the top of that list should be star shortstop Carlos Correa.

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson - USA TODAY Sports

On May 25, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Correa's diagnosis sent shockwaves through the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball.

Will Correa need to go on the IL? Will he be out for the rest of the season? What will the Twins do at shortstop if Correa is out for a significant period?

Those who follow baseball ruminated on worst-case scenarios, and the all-too-familiar sense of panic flooded the collective consciousness of the cursed yet ever-optimistic Minnesota sports fan.

Why us, and why now? Why Correa of all players?

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Correa was in the lineup the next day against the Toronto Blue Jays and made an incredible defensive play.

Instead of going on the 10-day IL or sitting out for an extended amount of time, the plan for Correa was to manage his plantar fasciitis utilizing relatively frequent rest days and load management practices.

Although Correa's play has been below his career averages, the plan to keep Correa on the field has gone exceptionally well.

Here are Correa's numbers since his plantar fasciitis diagnosis on May 25 compared to league average statistics for shortstops during the 2023 season:

• Correa - .233/.312/.401 (.713), 314 PA, 65 H, 15 doubles, 10 homers, 22.6% K%, .168 ISO, .275 BABIP, 96 wRC+
• League Average - .244/.308/.394 (.702), 22.8% K%, .150 ISO, .295 BABIP, 89 wRC+

Correa has been able to perform as a slightly above-average shortstop while dealing with plantar fasciitis, which is clearly hindering his performance. 

Not only has Correa performed above league average for shortstops while suffering from plantar fasciitis, but he has been a steady fixture in the Twins lineup, missing only 14 games this season. 

Correa's pain tolerance, resilience, and devotion to the Twins and the game of baseball should be appreciated, and he is a significant reason why the Twins currently own a 96.2% of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. 

On Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that the Twins plan on playing current starting third baseman Royce Lewis at shortstop more often once Byron Buxton returns from the 10-day IL in early September.

Shifting Lewis to shortstop opens up the opportunity for the Twins to give Correa more days off while being able to keep one of their star young players in the lineup down the stretch.

The Twins also have Kyle Farmer and the soon-to-return from the 10-day IL Willi Castro as viable shortstop options, so Correa getting extended rest isn't exclusively contingent upon Lewis shifting over to shortstop.

While it would be wise to give veteran players days off during the season's final month, especially those dealing with a persistent ailment like Correa, a different end of the spectrum exists for young players like Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner.

If the Twins make the playoffs, this would be Lewis, Julien, and Wallner's first time in the postseason. While these three young position players have been vital fixtures for the Twins since the All-Star break, they have only 587 combined plate appearances this season.

To put this into perspective, Correa has 506 plate appearances this season. 

Keeping Lewis, Julien, and Wallner in the lineup and, in turn, giving them more at-bats offers them more opportunity to, though it is incremental, hone their craft, sharpen their play, and gain experience as they hope to march into the postseason.

Resting Correa while playing young and emerging position players more often is a win-win situation for the Twins, barring they can sustain their immense divisional lead.

The main reason the Twins should rest Correa is the opportunity for Correa to heal from his bout with plantar fasciitis in hopes of being as healthy as possible for the postseason.

Playing one or two games while taking the majority of games off during each remaining week could help Correa, as noted when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli interacted with reporters following Correa's initial diagnosis in late May. 

In the Twitter post above, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic highlights Baldelli's personal battle with plantar fasciitis. Baldelli implies that resting and having the privilege of doing essentially no physical activity for a month healed his condition. 

Now, every person is different, but giving Correa extended time off could end up helping him with his plantar fasciitis the same way it helped Baldelli. 

Since Correa's initial diagnosis, the Twins have been entrenched in an unrelenting divisional battle with the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers, so giving him extended time off has yet to be a realistic option. 

Correa is hitting .258/.382/.500 (.882) with 16 hits, four homers, three doubles, 21.1% K%, .242 ISO, and 141 wRC+ over his past 76 plate appearances. Correa has been an integral part of why the Twins were able to go from 0.5 games behind the Guardians during the All-Star break to a six-game lead as of August 28. 

With just 31 games left in the regular season and the Twins possessing a formidable six-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians, the Twins could soon find themselves in a spot where they can take their foot off the pedal and give Correa extended time off. 

As long as the Twins manage not to implode during their upcoming six games in nine days stretch versus the Guardians, they should reward Correa for his services by resting him as much as possible down the stretch.

What do you think of Correa's performance while battling plantar fasciitis this season? Should the Twins give him extended rest? Comment below. 

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[DJL44]

The Twins have the possibility of being the first team to have their playoff spot decided. The teams in the East and West could be battling for the division title until the last day of the season. That could give the Twins the advantage of setting everything up for the postseason.

[insagt1]

1. 6 games left with Cleveland.... team the Twins have struggled to beat enough times to feel real comfortable. Fortunately(or not?) those 6 games will be played during the next few days...leaving some chunk of time to recover if necessary. I think if they split those 6 games, the Twins will probably win the division.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

With Royce active and productive, Jhoan Duran might be more important.

If Correa goes on the IL, there’s options that can be very productive, including Royce & Farmer

if Duran goes to the IL, I shudder to think who fills that gap…

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I think resting Correa is absolutely the right decision.  I say get through the Cleveland/Texas/Cleveland series and then give him a rest for a bit unless we are still not in a good position in the division.  (Because if we don’t make the playoffs, it won’t matter how his feet feel).  Aside from his feet, the rest of his body can probably use the break as well. 

Plantar Fasciitis is a weird thing.  I have had a few bouts with it and have known many others that have as well.  Some people get by with just resting.  Others don’t seem to improve with rest (me), and it can take a cortisone shot in the bottom of each foot to help solve the issue (not a good time, but it worked!).  Some people can just put fancy insoles in the shoes (no, not from the Dr. Scholl’s display and things will improve.  All of this is to say, Correa is receiving the best imaginable medical attention on this, so they have likely figured out what will help for him (or what won’t).  I do know that staying off of one’s feet is never a bad idea, particularly if you can calm down the swelling. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

8 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

With Royce active and productive, Jhoan Duran might be more important.

If Correa goes on the IL, there’s options that can be very productive, including Royce & Farmer

if Duran goes to the IL, I shudder to think who fills that gap…

At least it won’t be this!

[farmerguychris]

Lets get thru both of these Cleveland series and then if we are still holding our own and our September call ups are here, I'd be ok with it.  Just not yet.

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

At least it won’t be this!

Floro does a pretty good impression 

[chpettit19]

If a few extra rest days in the middle of the month would help, and the team is maintaining a 5+ game lead in the division, sure, give him a couple extra days off here and there, but I'd want nothing to do with an IL stint or anything like that. A day a week off? Sure. Multiple days a week off? No. He needs to stay healthy, but he also needs to keep his timing. See what the standings look like after this Cleveland/Texas run and rest everyone a little extra through the end of the year. But make sure your top guys are still getting plenty of work as you head into the playoffs so their timing is as good as it can be at the plate.

[mikelink45]

Plantar fasciitis is a really painful experience.  Give him some rest, we have enough to cover for him the rest of the season.  I have had the good experience of curing my pain with inserts, but each person is difference and a sharp pain like he has can cause a twitch at the worst time.  And we have a long term investment to protect.  

[jkcarew]

Agree…hopefully the opportunity presents itself. He’s very valuable even when he isn’t hitting. And rest might give the bat a boost as well.

I really appreciate his ability and willingness to go out there and try to do his job (nearly) every day. That should be something easy for Twins fans to appreciate.

[Blyleven2011]

The ta do list ...

Rest or no rest ...

I say rest the veterans  and let the younger players play and go on a winning streak ...

When was the last time we had a winming streak of 10 games or  more ???

[Trov]

First, with 6 games soon against Cleveland, a little early to say we will make playoffs.  I am hopeful, but lets get past those games.  We lose 5 of 6 then we are fighting it out for division all over again.  We win 5 of 6 and we are coasting into playoffs, not really but much clear path. 

If the Twins think resting will make foot better, then go for it, but the issue, to my understanding is very specific to each player and how it has affected them.  He clearly is doing better of late, and resting may not get the results you want sometimes. 

[USAFChief]

Do we even know if Correa is still experiencing plantar fasciitis?

 

[Dave Borton]

4 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

At least it won’t be this!

Right. 

Lost some weight and they told him to lose the hair. I bet.

 

[Schmoeman5]

Is this idea being floated to prevent Correa from possibly breaking the MLB record for GIDP? (Sarcasm) Correa is a veteran player. Sure he wants to play everyday. In the same token if Rocco decides to give him an occasional day off Correa is not going to object. He's really the only guy with extensive playoff experience. Yeah I know there's others. But he's going to be the guy leading the troops. And I'm sure it's already been discussed. If the Twins can extend the division lead to 8 or 10 he'll get rest. If Cleveland goes on a tear and eats into that lead, he won't. JMO

[Brandon]

5 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

At least it won’t be this!

Solano grounded into a double play here.  That must be why the Twins signed him.   

Also Astudillo pitched 4 games and 4 innings giving up only 1 run for us the year before.  Are you sure he shouldn't be pitching in a pen? 

 

[Brandon]

As far as days off for Correa?  I can see limiting him in a series after the second time we play Cleveland and maybe giving him another series to take it easy too.  but he needs to be in a rhythm going into the playoffs and not be off right before.  too much time off will mess with his hitting.  But he should definitely take a few days off.  I think something in the neighborhood of playing in 21-25 of the remaining 31 games makes sense or I think there is what 9 games then there is 22 left so playing in 12-16 of the remaining 22 games after the 2nd Cleveland series.  I don't know that it is a good idea or how much help a few more days would give him.  

If he needs a cortisone shot and rest, then he needs to do that right after the Cleveland series so he can be ready to go after that and probably should have a 10-day DL trip for that too.  

[Aerodeliria]

7 hours ago, davidborton said:

Right. 

Lost some weight and they told him to lose the hair. I bet.

 

I've yet to see him play, actually, but SoftBank will likely make the playoffs despite La Tortuga's .136 BA (I'll bet he hasn't seen a fastball in about a month), They have a mystique that arises from getting the most out of their players.

[Aerodeliria]

I would hesitate to shut him down completely because he is a notoriously slow starter. Maybe DH him every other day if the foot is bothering him a little, but as was mentioned, how bad is the condition? I am much more concerned by Maeda's start against Cleveland--only three Ks. That makes me think he might have re-injured himself, but perhaps he just had an off night. Let's hope for the latter, but if he pitches this poorly the next time out, my guess is that he has re-injured himself and will need to be shut down again.

[SwainZag]

8 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The ta do list ...

Rest or no rest ...

I say rest the veterans  and let the younger players play and go on a winning streak ...

When was the last time we had a winming streak of 10 games or  more ???

2008.

[gil4]

12 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

Plantar Fasciitis is a weird thing.  ...

Some people can just put fancy insoles in the shoes (no, not from the Dr. Scholl’s display and things will improve.  

The Dr Scholl's ones actually worked for me (along with some extra stretching .) 

[MABB1959]

Too early, there is still a lot of baseball left and hopefully will have it more locked down soon.  IMO we are a bit away from getting too comfortable.  But on the bright side the "future" is doing great!

Does Correa make a difference?  If yes, do not rest him yet.

 

[Karbo]

I would play him until we hopefully clinch, then use a rotation of field, DH, rest.

[saviking]

We shoukd give him days off for more reasons than one ..

[Minny505]

Rest, if not IL:

• Duran
• Jax
• Ober
• Maeda
• Correa

They kicked it off with Ober. Hopefully there will be more.