Injury woes and player availability concerns continue to plague the Minnesota Twins. It was announced that All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa will be placed on the COVID-19 injury list until further notice. This is now the third Twins player that will land on the Covid-19 IL list. Starting pitcher Joe Ryan and outfield Gilberto Celestine were already on the list before the addition of Correa. Correa was the big-name signing by the Twins this offseason. The 27-year-old was selected first overall by the Houston Astros in the 2012 MLB Draft. After making his big-league debut in 2015, Correa has amassed several accolades during his tenure in the MLB. Securing the AL Rookie of the Year in 2015, and an All-Star plusa World Series championship in 2017. In 2021, Correa earned his second All-Star selection as well as a Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Award.
After seven successful seasons with Houston, Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins in March to a three-year/$105.3 million contract. So far this season Correa has been in good form. Batting a steady .279 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. He had previously missed 11 games earlier in May due to a bruised right finger that he sustained during a May 5 matchup with the Baltimore Orioles.
Despite the injuries, however, the Twins are managing to stay afloat. The team currently sits atop the AL Central standings with a record of 29-20, with a five-game lead on the Chicago White Sox who currently sit at 23-24.
To deal with Correa’s absence, however, the Twins have called up infielder Jermaine Palacios from the Minnesota Triple-A affiliate, St. Paul Saints. Hailing from Venezuela, Palacios signed with the Twins in 2013. After being traded in 2018 to the Tampa Bay Rays and entering free agency, he signed with the Twins again in 2019. In 39 games with the Saints, he’s batting .262. Although the Twins are missing an All-Star in Correa, they are gaining a player who’s excited to make his big-league debut, “[I’m] more excited than nervous,” Palacios said to reporters. “It feels real.”
