Astros’ Jose Altuve reaches 2,000 hits, joining elite company

Altuve, who grew to become 33 in May, registered the two,000th hit of his profession all over Saturday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Seattle Mariners. To most sensible it off, the megastar 2d baseman completed the feat in entrance of the house enthusiasts at Minute Maid Park.

Altuve notched profession hit No. 1,997 in Tuesday’s victory over the Miami Marlins, ahead of exiting the competition following his first at-bat of the night time because of a bad ball off of his leg, and went hitless the next day. He added an infield unmarried all over Friday’s collection opener, then led off the ground of the primary on Saturday with a line-drive unmarried to left box. 

After putting out within the 3rd inning, Altuve joined the 2,000-hit membership within the backside of the 5th. He roped every other line pressure to left box, ahead of being tagged out at 2d base making an attempt to stretch the one right into a double—evoking reminiscences of Craig Biggio’s 3,000th profession hit.

Houston’s 2d baseman is now in elite company along with his 2,000th profession hit. Altuve joins Jeff Bagwell and Biggio (the franchise’s all-time hit king) as the one gamers to sign in 2,000-plus hits with the Astros, and he’s one among simply seven energetic gamers with no less than 2,000 hits. Altuve led the American League in hits in 4 consecutive seasons from 2014-2017, and he is posted a batting moderate of no less than .300 seven instances. In an generation outlined in-part by means of free-swinging sluggers and ever-growing strikeout totals, Altuve is one thing of a throwback to the game’s previous.

Altuve is not slowing into his past due profession after crossing 2,000 hits. In his thirteenth MLB season, the diminutive 2d baseman stays a potent pressure on the plate. Altuve received AL MVP in 2017 and logged a fifth-place end 5 years later, and in 2023, he is posted career-highs in on-base proportion and OPS, albeit in a restricted pattern after an early-season absence because of a fractured thumb. Altuve stays one among baseball’s highest table-setters, with a mix of touch abilities and unexpected energy matched by means of few gamers this century. He stays a key piece of a dynasty now by some means in its 7th marketing campaign. 

With 2,000 hits now within the rearview reflect, a herbal query now emerges: can Altuve turn out to be Mr. 3,000? Such a designation is reserved for simply 33 gamers within the recreation’s historical past, with Biggio being the one former Houston participant within the membership (sitting at No. 26 at the all-time checklist). And whilst every other 1,000 hits is definitely inside of achieve for a participant of Altuve’s ability, projecting such quantity as he enters his mid-30s is a dangerous recreation. A 170-hit-per-season tempo—a mark now not reached by means of Altuve since 2017—would imply Altuve wishes slightly below six seasons to hit the milestone, bringing the mark inside of achieve by means of 2028 on the earliest. Can we ensure any Astros participant now not named Yordan Alvarez may also be at the roster by means of then? I’m now not so positive.

We will have to save issues of Altuve 3K for yet again, preferably within the latter part of this decade. For now, we will have to recognize Wednesday’s accomplishment for what it’s, additional validation of Altuve’s status as one of the vital highest hitters of his generation.