Carlos Correa To Return, Austin Martin Optioned

After 16 days on the injured list, start shortstop Carlos Correa will make his return this evening against the White Sox, according to MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park.

Correa returns to a team playing drastically better than when he left. The Twins went on to lose the game in which he suffered his right intercostal injury and dropped to 4-7. After an MLB-best seven-game win streak highlighted by the offense finally coming to life, they sit at 14-13. Correa was their best hitter when he went on the IL, but breakouts from Edouard Julien, Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Max Kepler, and Jose Miranda will take the pressure off of Correa.

Perhaps even more importantly, Willi Castro can finally take a day off for the first time since Correa went down. He has started and finished every game but one since the injury on April 12th, and he still appeared in and finished the other game.

To make room on the 26-man roster, the Twins are expected to option Austin Martin. Martin has played well in what was supposed to be the Willi Castro super-utility role but has been slumping over the last week. The roster decision came down to Miranda or Martin, and they opted to keep the offense of Miranda over Martin’s speed and defense.

While it’s surely disappointing for Martin, he will undoubtedly be back with the Twins in short order. His defensive versatility, speed, and high-end on-base skill give him plenty of value for a Major League club. He also acquitted himself well to centerfield in his first stint, which is always important for a team that employs Byron Buxton.

Welcome back to the squad, Carlos. I hope you like sausage.