HOUSTON -- Astros shortstop Carlos Correa underwent surgery Monday to repair a deviated septum, he told reporters Saturday afternoon during an event at Minute Maid Park.
Correa said he was having trouble breathing through his nose while running the bases, but hopes the surgery will help alleviate the issue moving forward. According to the Mayo Clinic website, a deviated septum occurs when the thin wall between nasal passages is displaced to one side, restricting airflow and causing difficulty breathing.
"It's annoying," Correa said. "I was having trouble breathing and I saw a doctor and she told me I needed surgery on my nose and I was like, 'All right, let's fix it.' It's been tough the last three days, obviously, to breathe through my nose, but at the end of the day it's for the greater good."
Correa battled a sore back in the second half of the season and into the playoffs and said Saturday he felt good but hadn't yet started his offseason training program because of his nose. Correa played in 110 regular-season games in 2018, batting .239 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs in his fourth year in the Majors.
"In a week or so, I'll start once again and right now, [my back] feels great," he said.
Correa is the third known member of the Astros to have surgery in the postseason. All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve underwent surgery Oct. 19 to repair a patella (kneecap) avulsion fracture in his right knee. Right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday and will miss the 2019 season.
Scott Boras, McCullers' agent, said earlier this week McCullers tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in August. He came back to pitch in relief in the final week of the regular season and playoffs and was limited to one inning.
"It's sad news, but when he told me he was trying to pitch through it I was like, 'There's no way,'" Correa said. "He said, 'I'm going to have surgery anyway, so I might as well contribute in the playoffs.' I was impressed the kind of competitive athlete he is and the dog in him of wanting to just go out there and help the team no matter what, even through the bad times. I have mad respect for him. Every day we talk and he's very positive and ready to recover and come back strong."