Carlos Correa discusses unexpected return to the Astros

Carlos Correa’s Return to Houston

Carlos Correa is excited to be back in Houston.

As he donned the Astros uniform again after three and a half seasons, smiles appeared all around among his former teammates. It’s a familiar feeling, and it’s clear he’s genuinely enjoying the moment.

“It was amazing,” Correa expressed, recalling his time with the Astros.

Jose Alvarez, Jordan Alvarez, and Framber Valdez are just a few of the players still with the organization since Correa’s exit.

Having spent the first seven years of his career in Houston, where he was named the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year and won a World Series in 2017, Correa’s journey has had its twists. Before the start of the 2022 season, he signed with the Twins. However, his path back to Houston wasn’t straightforward; after experiencing setbacks with deals to the Giants and Mets, he found himself back with the Twins in 2023.

The Twins traded him back to Houston, giving up left-hander Matt Mikulski from A-Ball in what seemed to be more of a financial move than a strategic one.

Despite a tough season with the Twins, Correa decided to waive his no-trade clause to rejoin a competitive team. “I wasn’t sure this would happen,” he admitted. But as discussions progressed with Minnesota’s front office, he felt the situation evolving. When he received confirmation, he immediately called his wife.

Correa’s performance had dipped that season; he ended with a .267 average and only seven home runs in 364 plate appearances. This was a stark contrast to his impressive stats from his earlier years in Houston, where he had a .277 average with 133 home runs over seven seasons, even earning MVP votes in three of those years.