MINNEAPOLIS — Though he clearly remained in pain, Carlos Correa saw consistent improvement with the plantar fasciitis in his right foot after undergoing daily shockwave therapy.
The Minnesota Twins’ shortstop needed to confer with the team’s training staff on whether they’d continue the painful treatment in the first few weeks of the offseason. He seems open to next season continuing the non-invasive treatment, which increases blood flow and aids tissue regeneration through the use of high-energy sound waves.
After struggling to make steady progress for nearly two months despite trying a variety of possible solutions, Correa began the treatment in early September after traveling to Los Angeles for another medical opinion. Correa batted .325/.460/.500 with four doubles and a home run in 50 plate appearances after returning to the Twins’ lineup Sept. 14, his first action since going on the injured list in mid-July.
“The treatment we’ve been doing has been good for us,” Correa said. “It worked when I was playing. I’m better today than when I was in Boston (for the team’s final road series). So it’s slowly improving every single week. Definitely got to keep doing it. Whatever it takes to stay on the field.”
When he first discovered the injury on July 13, Correa initially hoped he’d miss only a week, most of which would be consumed by the All-Star break. During that week, Correa received a platelet-rich plasma injection and didn’t recover as quickly as he had imagined.
By the end of July, the Twins were concerned about Correa’s return as he’d made only incremental progress despite trying a number of solutions. Correa made adjustments to his cleats, putting holes in his insoles and trimming the shoes.
But nothing took hold as much as the shockwave treatment, which he described as painful but effective. Similar to what he did with his previously affected left foot all season long, Correa could need constant preventive treatment on his right foot in the future, too.
“Whatever gets us healthy,” Correa said. “Without rehab or anything, I gave it a good shot. We didn’t make the playoffs, so it’s honestly disappointing. I felt like coming back from such an injury, I did my best.”
Carlos Correa puts the Twins ahead with one swing! 😤
(Via: @BallySportsNOR)
pic.twitter.com/eRonbkV0Vp— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 29, 2024
Whereas Correa’s recovery will at least continue into October, Byron Buxton said two words during his exit interview he hadn’t since 2017: normal offseason. Each of his previous two seasons ended with knee injuries that resulted in surgery. In 2021, Buxton ended the season with a hip injury and needed treatment.
He spent the first part of the 2020 offseason recovering from a concussion. His 2019 campaign ended with a left shoulder subluxation that required surgery. He also ended the 2018 season nursing several nagging injuries, but spent the winter hitting and putting in two-a-day workouts.
While he’s disappointed about the team missing the playoffs, Buxton was proud of reaching the 100-game mark and finishing the season healthy after missing 28 games with right hip inflammation.
Buxton returned to the lineup Sept. 13 and batted .300/.340/.500 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBIs in 53 plate appearances.
“Relaxation,” he said of his offseason plans. “A lot of relaxation. Not a lot of going in and out of (physical therapy). Just my normal offseason, so for me it’s the first in six years. Oh, yeah. I’m definitely enjoying it.”
As for his twice surgically-repaired right knee, Buxton suggested he saw improvement from where he was in spring training.
“It wasn’t like this in spring training,” Buxton said. “We managed. We managed. Still work to do, but we managed.”
Chris Paddack managed to throw one final bullpen session on Sunday, ending a trying season on “a good note.” The righty threw two live batting practices as he ramped up in September in hopes of being ready to pitch in relief in the playoffs.
Paddack last pitched July 14 and he was held out of action as he recovered from a right forearm strain. Prior to being placed on the 15-day IL, he made 17 starts, finishing with a 4.99 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings.
Following a season coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Paddack is in a good place mentally as he heads into the offseason despite missing the second half with a forearm strain. As he prepares for free agency after the 2025 season, Paddack thinks he built a good base for himself and hopes the team will let him loose next season.
He doesn’t plan to stop throwing.
“We’re calling it backyard catch,” Paddack said. “I’m not going to put down the baseball this offseason, whether it’s the football or 60 feet three days a week for about a month before it’s time to ramp up for spring training. … Now we can push. If I can stay healthy, I think good things will happen.”
(Photo of Carlos Correa: Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images)
