Twins’ Correa hopeful woes with feet are history

MINNEAPOLIS —

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“It was tough, but you’ve got to just flush it down the drain and just focus on the next one. I feel like we have a great team,” said Correa, who was limited by plantar fasciitis in his left foot in 2023. “We have a lot of young guys with so much potential, and if we put in the work we’re going to be in a great spot.”

After a visit to a specialist in California during his extended absence last year, Correa began shockwave treatments on the affected area of his foot designed to increase blood flow and regenerate damaged tissue. That’ll be part of his regimen moving forward, along with extra arch support in his cleats to alleviate pressure on his heels. He was so desperate for a fix last year he started trimming his cleats and poking holes in his insoles.

“The one thing that everyone knows about Carlos: He’s going to prepare himself about as well as anyone can to do all the things that are needed both on and off the field to manage it,” team president Derek Falvey said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll get there.”

This season, the Twins will consider additional games at designated hitter to help keep Correa off his feet more. Their infield depth — with Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien and Willi Castro — should help with that goal. The question to be answered during spring training is who will play where. First base is the most obvious position there for the taking, following the departure of Carlos Santana.

With the club currently for sale and essentially in a spending freeze, the major league roster has not had any notable additions yet. The healthy return of Correa would go a long way toward making that status-quo strategy work for the Twins in 2025.

Though Correa’s name was circulated through the major league rumor mill this winter, he said he didn’t concern himself with such noise because of his no-trade clause.

“Let me tell you something: I love Minnesota, and I love the fishing here,” Correa said.