Carlos Correa's recovery from ankle surgery is progressing faster than expected, and he didn't rule out a return to the Houston Astros this season. The 31-year-old underwent surgery on May 11 to repair a torn ankle tendon and was initially expected to miss the entire season. However, Correa is now doing everything except hitting, sparking hope for a quicker comeback. "We'll see," he said when asked about playing this year. "I wouldn't be doing all this work if I didn't think there was a chance."

Manager Joe Espada confirmed Correa is ahead of schedule but emphasized he still has a long way to go before returning to the lineup. Correa is running at 80-90% and has a doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday where he hopes to be cleared for hitting. "I'm in a really good spot... everything feels great," he said.

The Astros have won nine of 10 games recently, vaulting into first place in the American League West, which has given Correa extra motivation to return. "The way we've been playing lately definitely motivates me even more to go out there, put in the work to try to make it back," he explained.

Before his injury, Correa was hitting .279 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. He is owed $31.5 million this season with additional contracts through 2028.