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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried is pulled during the sixth inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is hit by a pitch during the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston Astros relief pitcher Phil Maton reacts after Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman grounds out to end the top of the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Albies was charged with an error, a run scored on the play, and the Astros, with runners on second and third following a successful double steal, were on the cusp of a big inning. "Jose Altuve recorded his 1st 4-hit game of the season, last, Oct. 2, 2021 vs OAK...since he entered the league in 2…" – via Twitter. Originally listed at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m), Altuve is now listed at his correct height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m), making him the shortest active player in Major League Baseball, and the shortest since Freddie Patek retired following the 1981 season.
In addition to being a part of a three-home run performance, it kickstarted a postseason in which he hit seven home runs—which is tied for the sixth-most in MLB history. Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of game one of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 5, 2017 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a solo home run off of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning of game one of the American League Division Series on October 5, 2017 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Altuve gave the Astros their first lead of the 2019 postseason, hitting a two-run shot off the Rays in the bottom of the fifth to put Houston up 2-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS. In the bottom of the sixth, Altuve took right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck deep on the first pitch of the at-bat for a two-run homer that tied the game at 3, sparking a rally that led to a 5-4 Astros win.
Jose Altuve
Houston won Game 4 of the 2020 ALDS by a comfortable margin, beating Oakland 11-6 to clinch the series. Altuve's two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh capped an 11-run explosion for the Astros between the fourth and seventh innings. The Houston Astros bench reacts as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning as the Houston Astros take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 in Houston.
He also hit two home runs, stole seven bases, and posted a .358 slugging percentage in 221 at-bats. For the 2022 regular season, Altuve batted .300, reaching the mark for the first time since 2018, and tied his career high with 66 walks in 141 games. He finished eighth in the AL in batting, fourth in each of OBP (.387), SLG (.533) and OPS (.921), and third in OPS+ . He also ranked second both with 103 runs scored and stolen base percentage (94.74, 18-for-19), eighth in doubles , and tenth in total bases . Altuve won his fourth Luis Aparicio Award, and was nominated for the AL Hank Aaron Award. In 77 total plate appearances during the 2021 playoffs, Altuve tied the record held by Carlos Beltran for most runs scored in one postseason with 21 runs.
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He was named the GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Award winner as the Breakout Everyday Player of the Year. He won the first Silver Slugger Award of his career, as the top hitter among American League second basemen. He was also bestowed his first iteration of the Luis Aparicio Award, annually given to the Venezuelan judged to produce the best individual performance. Many homes have a game room, but few rival the one in this house, with a wall-size glass case filled with Altuve’s trophies and the sports memorabilia he has collected. He has Mike Trout’s spikes and Alcides Escobar’s Gold Glove Award, J.J. Watt’s signed helmet and boxing gloves from Jorge Linares. There’s a sprinkling of baseball players’ bobbleheads and a number of trophies etched with his own name, from honors earned through the years he’s been with the Astros.
In the bottom of the fifth, Altuve went opposite field for a solo homer off Tommy Kahnle. The winner-take-all game had been incredibly tense thus far, with this homer scoring the second run of the game and inching the Astros closer to their 4-0 victory. Altuve carried his bat about halfway down the first base line before tossing it aside, a rare show of swagger for the usually deferential infielder.
2017 ALDS Game 1 vs Boston at Minute Maid Park
Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly strikes out the first Atlanta Braves batter during the eighth inning go Game 2 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Houston. Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and first baseman Yuli Gurriel high-five teammates after defeating the Atlanta Braves 7-2 during Game 2 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Houston. Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve celebrate at the end of the Astros 7-2 win of Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
He yielded four ground-ball singles to the final four hitters in Houston’s order. An Eddie Rosario throwing error and questionable positioning betrayed Fried, but such is life against the Astros. Opponents had a .522 OPS against him in 93 innings after the All-Star break. His two regular-season shutouts were more than any major league starter. He struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings and threw six innings in 19 of his 28 regular-season starts.
It was the seventh career game for Woodruff with at least 10 strikeouts. Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez pitches to Atlanta Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario during the first inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Astros fans cheer as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve runs up the first base line after hitting a double to left to lead off the first inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston Astros left fielder Michael Brantley runs to second after hitting a double during the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
A two-run home run by George Springer in the top of the 11th was the deciding factor in a 7-6 Houston victory. With Houston leading the Yankees by one in Game 7 of the ALCS, Altuve helped spark a three-run fifth inning with a solo shot. The Astros held on to win 4-0 to advance to the World Series for the second time in franchise history. Altuve's third solo home run of this contest wasn't memorable in terms of the impact on the game, as Houston was already winning 7-2, but it did carry significance.
Brad Peacock, who threw eight pitches in a scoreless eighth inning Friday night, became the fourth pitcher ever to finish a postseason game and then start the next day, and the first since 1924. Altuve doubled off Green with one out in the first inning and Bregman drew a walk with two outs. After a short visit to the mound, Gurriel knocked the next pitch into the seats in left field for a 3-0 lead. Game 2 of the 2017 World Series wasn't short on power, with each team connecting on four long balls, and five home runs coming in extra innings alone. Altuve and Carlos Correa opened the top of the 10th with back-to-back solo shots, but the Dodgers answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Astros led the Yankees after each of the first eight innings in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS, but New York was able to plate two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game up. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman—who was coming off his sixth of seven All-Star seasons, and who hadn't allowed a run in his previous eight playoff appearances—walked Springer with two outs, bringing Altuve to the plate. In what was perhaps the most memorable home game in Astros postseason history, Altuve came up big for his team once again.
Down 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Altuve sent Garrett Whitlock’s 96 mph sinker over the Green Monster, tying the game at 2 and marking a turning point in both the game and the series. The Astros went on to win that game 9-2 and eventually earned their third World Series berth in five years two games later. In the bottom of the seventh, Altuve took Jake Diekman deep for a solo homer that gave the Astros an 11-4 lead and put an emphatic end to a series they dominated. In the bottom of the first, Altuve cranked a solo homer off Jesus Luzardo that tied the game at 1.
The Astros found themselves trailing the Red Sox 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth in Game 1 of the ALCS, but Altuve changed that outlook with one swing of the bat. He hit a two-run blast to tie the game up, helping Houston go on to win 5-4. Altuve's solo home run in Game 4 of the ALCS came in the bottom of the first, but it proved to be a valuable one.
He began 2010 with the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League, hitting .308 with 39 steals and 11 home runs, earned a spot on the league all-star team, and then moved up to the Lancaster JetHawks in the Class A-Advanced California League and hit .276. The Royals have lost five straight games after coming into the series with the best record in baseball. Altuve doubled on Braves starter Max Fried’s fifth pitch of the game. Altuve has 22 postseason home runs, moving him into a tie with Bernie Williams for second place all-time. On May 19, 2022, Altuve doubled for the 344th time in his career, which broke a tie with César Cedeño for fourth-most in Astros history. He also reached a season-high four hits to drive a 5–1 win over the Rangers.
