Carlos Correa could be on the move in more ways than one this week.
The Astros infielder, working his way back from what looked like a season-ending ankle surgery in May, may begin a minor league rehab assignment this week. And when he does return, Houston is considering a wrinkle nobody saw coming: Correa at second base.
The idea was first reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, and MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart added that Correa took grounders at second yesterday while training at the club’s Spring Training facility. Correa has never logged a game at the position in his 12 MLB seasons, but Houston’s thinking is clear enough. Even while rehabbing an ankle and learning a new spot on the fly, the belief is that he gives the Astros a better defensive option at the keystone than Jose Altuve.
Rosenthal reported that the plan would be to slot Correa at second whenever Yordan Alvarez is in left field, which would open the DH spot for Altuve. When Alvarez is the designated hitter, Correa would slide back to third, Altuve would handle second, and either Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker would cover first.
The one variable that could complicate everything is Alvarez’s own ankle. He’s missed Houston’s last two games with the issue, though he could be back as soon as today. Ideally for the Astros, that problem is gone by the time Correa is ready to contribute again, because Houston is still trying to squeeze every possible late-season answer out of its roster in the AL West race.
Elsewhere in the division, the Rangers got a boost and another headache in the same day.
Nathan Eovaldi and Josh Jung were activated from the injured list yesterday, with left-hander Adam Macko and catcher Logan O’Hoppe sent to Triple-A in the corresponding moves. Both Eovaldi and Jung made immediate impacts in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Diamondbacks. Jung started at third and went 2-for-5, while Eovaldi worked 2 2/3 relief innings and allowed one run in a new bullpen role.
Jung had been out since July 21 with a calf strain, while Eovaldi hadn’t pitched since August 7 because of right posterior elbow inflammation. The Rangers are 73-76, sitting two games behind the Astros in the division and two games back of the final American League wild card spot.
But the good news didn’t last long. Joc Pederson exited yesterday’s game after being hit on the left hand by a Brandon Pfaadt pitch. He stayed in long enough to run the bases, but Justin Foscue came on as a pinch-hitter in Pederson’s next trip to the plate.
Pederson told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News and other reporters that he’ll see a hand specialist today, though the initial x-rays did not show a fracture. Texas has leaned on the veteran left-handed bat mostly against right-handed pitching this season, and he’s produced .235/.329/.487 with 26 homers across 432 plate appearances. He has also seen some time at first base and in right field.
The Athletics also had an injury scare of their own, and it came with one of their most intriguing young arms.
Rookie starter Gage Jump gave up five runs in two innings during Saturday’s 19-1 loss to the Mariners, and the outing ended early because of both the damage on the scoreboard and a left shoulder impingement. Mark Kotsay told MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa and other media that Jump will undergo tests to determine exactly what’s going on, though there is still hope he can pitch again before the season ends.
Jump’s first major league season has been uneven, with a 5.47 ERA, a 24.7% strikeout rate and a 10.5% walk rate over 98 2/3 innings. Still, the underlying numbers tell a friendlier story, as his 4.15 SIERA reflects the .345 BABIP working against him.
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