Houston Astros star Jose Altuve recorded the 2,000th hit of his MLB career Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. Here’s what you need to know:
- Altuve becomes the 10th Venezuelan-born player to reach 2,000 major-league hits, joining a list that includes Miguel Cabrera, Omar Vizquel, Dave Concepción and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio.
- Altuve is also the seventh active player to reach the milestone.
- Earlier this month, he became the fifth player in franchise history to hit 200 home runs with the Astros.
Welcome to the 2,000-hit club, Jose Altuve. 👏 pic.twitter.com/n4AjYKRPyN
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How Altuve reached 2,000
Altuve got his 2,000th hit on a fifth-inning single into the left field corner off Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. Altuve tried to stretch the hit into a double, but was thrown out by Seattle left fielder Cade Marlowe. The Minute Maid Park crowd showered him with applause as he left the field and Altuve tipped his helmet toward them. After reaching the dugout, Altuve received a curtain call, came back onto the field and saluted the standing ovation once again.
Altuve accomplished the feat in his 1,631st career game, making him the fastest player in major-league history to reach 2,000 hits, 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. — Rome
How Altuve is cementing his Astros, MLB legacy
Altuve is the third player in franchise history to collect all 2,000 hits as an Astro, joining Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Though he trails Bagwell, Biggio, José Cruz and César Cedeño in wins above replacement as an Astro, Altuve’s postseason heroics and presence during the team’s golden era may already make him the most popular player in franchise history.
The eight-time All-Star has been a cornerstone during six straight American League Championship Series appearances, four American League pennants and two World Series championships. Altuve’s walk-off, pennant-clinching home run in Game 6 of the 2019 American League Championship Series is perhaps the most memorable hit in Minute Maid Park history. He won six Silver Sluggers and has taken home three batting titles since making his major-league debut in 2011. — Rome
Altuve’s milestone among Venezuelan players
Altuve and Elvis Andrus are the only two active Venezuelan players with 2,000 hits. Cabrera is the only Venezuelan to reach 3,000 hits, a milestone that Altuve may have trouble matching. The 60-game, pandemic-shortened season in 2020 took away at least 400 at-bats.
The 2017 American League MVP then missed 70 games this season due to thumb and oblique injuries. He’s still just 33 years old and said in spring training he wants to play until he’s 40. Presuming he sticks to his word, Altuve would have seven more seasons to join Cabrera in the 3,000-hit club.
At the very least, though, Cabrera’s impending retirement will make Altuve the active face of Venezuelan baseball. — Rome
Backstory
Altuve was activated off the injured list on July 26, having missed 60 games this year with two separate injuries, including straining his left oblique on July 4. He entered Saturday batting .318 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs through 52 games this season.
Altuve and Cabrera join Joey Votto, Freddie Freeman, Elvis Andrus, Nelson Cruz and Andrew McCutchen as the only active MLB players with 2,000 career hits.
Required reading
(Photo: Logan Riely / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
