HOUSTON — Carlos Correa i’m busy in additional pleasant banter with newshounds who preserve the Astros than he did together with his former Houston teammates. To his off-the-field pals like José Altuve and Justin Verlander, for so long as this American League Category Order lasts, Correa is best status of their method. 

Nearest Correa gained a handful of congratulatory texts upon the Twins sweeping the Blue Jays within the wild-card spherical, Astros avid gamers and Correa snip off touch with each and every alternative forward of the ALDS.

“We’ve just got to go out there and beat him,” Altuve stated. “Even though we like him a lot.”

“We’ll be friends again after this series,” Correa stated of the Astros. 

The shortstop’s pleasant smile used to be particularly absent occasion making that remark. In relation to the postseason, Correa is a competitor first. 

Following 3 medium-stakes video games endmost August in Houston and 3 lesser ones this age Might, this weekend is Correa’s greatest homecoming to this point with a fan bottom that watched him develop into the famous person he’s lately — the perennial playoff hero now calling Minnesota his MLB house amid a six-year, $200 million offer. Exit determine: It’s Correa’s first future again within the postseason since 2021, too, when his Astros reached a 3rd International Order however misplaced to the Braves. 

“I told my wife, I said, ‘I never want to miss the playoffs ever again,’ and this year we’re back at it,” Correa stated. “Obviously, this series is special. It’s against my former team, and I’m very excited.”

Judging by means of his welcome celebration — once more, everybody however the Astros avid gamers — nobody would blame you for pondering Correa nonetheless holds the keys to the town he continues to are living in all the way through the offseason.

Right through Saturday’s pregame introductions, he used to be the one Twins participant to obtain a heat applause — and without a doubt negative boos — from the Houston devoted. On Friday afternoon, earlier than Minnesota’s exercise on the ballpark, Correa prevented the golfing cart he used to be using within the tunnel to meet up with habitual faces that ranged from the newshounds that experience spent nearly a decade protecting him to the team of workers that impaired to appear later him. 

“The fans, they treat me like one of their own still,” Correa stated. “I went to eat last night, and all the Astros fans are wishing me good luck. I’m like, ‘Are you sure you want to wish me good luck?’

“After I going to consume breakfast this morning, and everybody’s wishing me excellent success. Clearly, the enthusiasts nonetheless recognize the whole thing I did for this town. They love me and my people, which all the time feels splendid. Yeah, I’m appreciative of the great success charms they’re sending my method.”

Correa took that popularity to Minnesota ahead of the 2022 season. He quickly became a leader for the Twins, a role he was used to in Houston through both his play and his philanthropy in the community. Last offseason, though, his future with the Twins was uncertain when he almost signed long-term contracts with the Giants and Mets, only to end up back in Minnesota. 

Amid concerns over the health of his right ankle, it was a down year for Correa in the Twin Cities. He finished the regular season with his worst career OPS (.711) in a full season. He led the major leagues by grounding into 30 double plays. Once a Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and MVP contender, this season’s version of Correa wasn’t the one the Astros were used to playing with. 

Still, he managed to flip a switch at the right time. Correa’s two extraordinary defensive plays and three hits helped the Twins close out Toronto in just two games this past week. A postseason icon in Houston, Correa is beginning to carve out that legacy with Minnesota. 

“We knew early on he used to be that form of participant that he loves to be a pace-setter,” Altuve said. “He used to be a splendid chief for our staff when he used to be right here, and I’m lovely certain he’s the chief at the alternative facet now with the Twins. We’ve simply were given to watch out with him. We all know he loves to play games in obese video games and are available out seize, however we’ve were given to give you the chance to block him.”

Correa got the best of a longtime ex-teammate when he led off the second inning of Saturday’s Game 1. Verlander pitched Correa outside, but the veteran right-hander didn’t have his usual command, so Correa didn’t bite. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, the shortstop sliced a single up the middle that bounced by Altuve and his shortstop successor on the Astros, Jeremy Peña, who won World Series MVP honors last year. Verlander would get his revenge in the sixth when he punched out Correa looking, thanks in part to a generous third strike.

Curiously, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli had Correa batting sixth, so he didn’t get as many chances as Minnesota fans might have liked against his former team. When Altuve was asked if he was surprised Correa, who typically batted cleanup for the Astros, was hitting so low in the Twins order, the second baseman shrugged and said he didn’t even notice. But it was hard for Twins fans not to, particularly when Minnesota rallied for four runs in the seventh inning, only for the threat to end with Correa in the on-deck circle. He led off the eighth with a double but was ultimately stranded at third.

“We had a batch of visitors available in the market,” Baldelli said after the Twins’ 6-4 loss. “We’re one excellent swing and even one well-placed swing clear of getting some actual motion going, hanging some runs up, and we simply didn’t get that.”

Perhaps, Correa will bat higher in the lineup and help the Twins to a playoff win another day. That’s certainly what his former teammates are expecting out of the star shortstop. This past week, Astros manager Dusty Baker said he won’t say too many nice things about Correa since his squad is trying to beat him — but not before admitting that Correa is still one of his, and his wife’s, all-time favorite players.

“Dusty is a person that I appreciate such a lot,” Correa said. “His spouse, each and every future I’d advance again to the auto, she could be within the parking batch looking ahead to him, and we might have some splendid conversations. So, clearly, it used to be a dating far more than simply player-manager. He used to be like any other father determine for me. So, it used to be particular when I used to be round him, all of the tales, all of the recommendation I picked up from him. 

“But like he said, now we got to face each other. I’ll be his son after the series is over, once again.”

Deesha Thosar is an MLB editor for FOX Sports activities. She in the past lined the Mets as a beat reporter for the Brandnew York Day-to-day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar. 

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