Jose Altuve keeps stacking milestones, and the latest one puts him in some rare company.
The Astros second baseman picked up the 2,500th hit of his career on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, lining a first-pitch sinker from Christopher Sánchez for a 369-foot double to center field. The hit came with two outs in the third inning, and it left Altuve with his 21st double of the season and his only hit in Houston’s 11-7 loss.
The Astros dugout reacted right away, and Trae Turner and Luis Arráez of the Phillies also congratulated him on the achievement. Even in a defeat, it was the kind of moment that reminds everyone how deep Altuve’s footprint runs in this game.
He became just the second active player to reach 2,500 hits, joining Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who got there on June 9 in his 2,243rd game, per StatMuse. Altuve hit the mark in his 2,095th game.
He also joined a tiny corner of Astros history. Only Craig Biggio had previously reached 2,500 hits in an Astros uniform.
“It’s a big number; 2,500 is a lot of hits. You think about all the hits, all the years you've been playing here with this amazing organization, my teammates," Altuve said, according to Space City Home Network.
" I'm thankful with God, my family, my teammates again. It's a great moment.
Really sad we lost the game...but this is a big hit for me."
The numbers around the milestone are striking, too. Altuve is now the 103rd player in MLB history to get to 2,500 hits, according to Baseball Reference, and only 31 players did it in fewer games, per Paul Casella of MLB.com.
His place on the second-base leaderboard is just as notable. Altuve is one of five second basemen all-time with at least 2,500 hits and 250 home runs, alongside Robinson Cano, Biggio, Joe Morgan and Rogers Hornsby, per Just Baseball. He’s also the fifth middle infielder all-time to reach 2,500-plus hits through his first 2,100 games, joining Hornsby, Derek Jeter, Frankie Frisch and Charlie Gehringer, according to Space City Home Network.
At 36, Altuve remains the longest-tenured Astro and the only player still on the roster who was with the club when it played in the National League. This is his 16th big league season after debuting in 2011, a remarkable climb for a player who was once turned away from a tryout in Venezuela because of his 5-foot-6 frame.
The résumé is already packed: two World Series titles, nine All-Star selections, three batting crowns, the 2017 American League MVP, the 2019 ALCS MVP and a Gold Glove in 2015. He’s also one of only three players with a career batting average of at least .300, along with Jeter and Willie Mays.
Altuve’s chase now moves on with 15 home runs, 44 RBI, a .244 average and a .703 OPS this season. Four other active players have at least 2,000 hits - Andrew McCutchen, Paul Goldschmidt, Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado - but none are near 2,500 right now.
In Other News...
Astros Fans Have Seen This Risky Outfield Gamble Go Wrong Before
Jesus Sanchezs run with Toronto has come to an abrupt stop after a stretch in which both his offense and defense slipped, leaving the Blue Jays to designate him for assignment. His batting average and on-base percentage have trended down since June, and the defensive numbers have not helped his case, which is the kind of profile that tends to get a front office thinking twice even when an outfielder still has obvious tools.
For the Astros, the name is familiar enough to stir memories of past outfield gambles that did not age well, but this does not appear to be a fit that has caught much traction in Houston. The club already has other outfield options on the roster, and Sanchezs mixed track record makes him more of a cautionary tale than an obvious upgrade as the Astros sort through their depth and try to avoid repeating a familiar mistake. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Pea's Funk Is Becoming A Real Astros Lineup Problem
Jeremy Pea has been holding down the second spot in the Astros lineup while Yordan Alvarez rests with right ankle soreness, but the move has come at an awkward time. Since Aug. 1, Peas offense has slipped badly, and his .602 OPS over that stretch has left him near the bottom of the American Leagues regular hitters. For a club that leans on timely production in the middle of the order, that kind of slide is hard to brush off.
Pea still matters to Houston because of what he brings beyond the box score. His athleticism and overall importance to the offense have made him a fixture in the lineup, even as the results have lagged. But with Alvarez out and Pea occupying a premium spot, the Astros are suddenly dealing with a lineup issue that goes beyond one cold stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Carlos Correas Return Could Trigger An Astros Infield Shakeup
Carlos Correas return from left-ankle surgery is already forcing the Astros to think beyond the obvious. Rather than plugging him right back in at shortstop, Houston is weighing a much different look by trying him at second base, a spot he has never played professionally. It is the kind of move that says a lot about how the club views the fit of its infield as much as it does Correas own versatility.
If Correa does begin a rehabilitation assignment soon, the next step will be seeing how that alignment actually works in game action. The idea could ripple through the rest of the infield, with Jose Altuve or Isaac Paredes potentially affected by the shuffle, and the Astros seem intent on using the comeback to sharpen the defense rather than simply restore the old order. [Read more 🡒]