Carlos Correa is happy to be back in Houston.

The three-time All-Star was all smiles when speaking with reporters for the first time in an Astros uniform after three and a half seasons away. 

“It’s been great. [My former Astros teammates] treated me like I never left,” Correa said. “It feels good to be in this clubhouse again and spend the time with great guys and great players.”

Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez are among those who have remained with the Astros since Correa departed. 

Correa, 30, spent the first seven seasons of his career in Houston, winning the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year award and the 2017 World Series with the Astros. 

Before the 2022 season, Correa signed with the Twins, and later re-upped in Minnesota in 2023 after deals with the Giants and Mets fell through that offseason.

The Twins sent him back to Houston in exchange for A-ball left-hander Matt Mikulski in a deal that amounted to a salary dump.

Correa waived his no-trade clause amid a disappointing season for the Twins to head back home on a World Series contender. 

“I never thought this would happen,” Correa said. “When it started developing, we were in constant conversations with the front office of Minnesota. When it finally happened, I called my wife. That’s when it started kicking in. It was surreal.”

Correa is in the midst of a down year offensively, hitting .267/.319/.386 with seven home runs in 364 plate appearances, though he enjoyed the best years of his career during his first stint in Houston. 

In seven seasons with the Astros, Correa hit .277/.356/.481 with 133 long balls and received MVP votes in three different seasons. 

Correa is in the third year of a six-year, $200 million contract that includes vesting options for each of the 2029-32 seasons.

The Astros are 62-47 and 4 1/2 games up on the Mariners in the American League West.