Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros star second baseman, recently underwent surgery to repair a broken thumb suffered during the World Baseball Classic. The injury occurred while Altuve was playing for the Venezuelan team in the tournament.
Altuve had been playing well in the tournament, hitting .333 with two home runs and four RBIs in five games. However, he was forced to leave the game against Italy after suffering the injury while sliding into second base.
The surgery was successful, and Altuve is expected to make a full recovery. He is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks, but the Astros are hopeful that he will be able to return to the lineup by mid-May.
The injury is a major blow to the Astros, who are already without their star shortstop Carlos Correa due to a back injury. Altuve is one of the best players in baseball, and his presence in the lineup will be sorely missed.
Altuve is a three-time All-Star and a two-time American League batting champion. He has also won two Silver Slugger awards and was named the AL MVP in 2017. He is an integral part of the Astros lineup and his absence will be felt.
The Astros have depth at second base, with players such as Marwin Gonzalez, Yulieski Gurriel, and Colin Moran able to fill in for Altuve. However, they will need to find a way to replace his production if they are to remain competitive in the AL West.
Altuve’s injury is a reminder of how fragile baseball can be. Even the best players can suffer serious injuries at any time. The Astros will be hoping that Altuve can make a speedy recovery and return to form as soon as possible.
