Attention major league pitchers! Jose Altuve, the 5’6″ second baseman for the Houston Astros and who is also the shortest player in the major leagues, is a certified BEAST at the plate! Whatever you do, do not serve-up a tasty fastball to this little guy, or you are likely to next see it flying into the stands for another home run.
In Thursday’s Game 1 of the American League Divisional playoffs versus the dreaded Boston Red Sox, Altuve stood tall and belted a whopping three home runs to power the Astros to an 8-2 win. In doing so, Venezuela’s Jose Altuve became just the ninth major league player to accomplish that feat in a playoff game. The 165-pound dynamo infielder joins the mighty sultan-of-swat, Babe Ruth, in this elite club.
In Friday’s Game 2, Altuve may have accomplished something even more special. After ripping a single in the first inning, the Red Sox pitchers had seen enough of this little guy. He was issued two intentional walks on Friday as the Astros grabbed yet another 8-2 win to lead this best-of-five series, 2-0. I find it inspiring and a bit humorous that major league pitchers are trembling at the thought of facing the Astros’ second baseman at the plate. Has anyone this small ever been issued two intentional walks in a playoff game before Friday? Ain’t it great?!
What’s not to like about the Astros’ Altuve? He led the American League in batting for the third time by hitting .346 with 24 regular season home runs, had 32 stolen bases, turned in a solid defensive season at second base, and is an unquestioned team leader in the Astros clubhouse. Like Craig Biggio, another Houston Astros’ Hall-of-Fame second baseman, Jose Altuve plays baseball with intensity and heart in every game during the regular season. Baseball fans across the country are getting another chance to discover Houston’s inspirational baseball gem during this year’s playoffs.
If the Astros should finish-off the Red Sox in the ALDS, I think it is likely that Jose Altuve will become the American League’s MVP for 2017, too. Other than saving Sweet Polly Purebred again from the dastardly deeds of Simon Bar Sinister, this everyman’s Underdog MVP has just about done it all for his team. He is also inspiring a new generation of average-sized youth by showing them that they can excel at sports like baseball, too.
Ole, Jose!