9:43PM: The “preliminary concern” is that Altuve had suffered a damaged proper thumb, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets, however it isn’t confirmed if that is Altuve’s precise harm.
8:56PM: Based on Astros GM Dana Brown, Altuve’s harm is to his proper hand. The second baseman is present process checks now, and the Astros can have extra info on Sunday. (Hat tip to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.)
8:48PM: Jose Altuve was eliminated throughout the fifth inning of tonight’s United States/Venezuela World Baseball Basic recreation after being hit on the appropriate hand with a pitch. The 95.9 mph sinker from Daniel Bard sailed up and in, catching Altuve and knocking the second baseman to the bottom. Altuve was in seen discomfort as he left the sector, with a crew coach supporting Altuve’s proper hand and wrist space.
Extra will likely be identified concerning the nature of the harm as soon as an official announcement is made to media, and a extra in-depth analysis received’t be identified till Altuve undergoes checks and imaging. Whatever the consequence of tonight’s recreation for Venezuela, it will definitely seem as if Altuve has performed his final recreation of the 2023 WBC, because the Astros will undoubtedly need their longtime star again in camp for fuller examination of the harm.
With Edwin Diaz’s knee surgical procedure nonetheless lingering within the public consciousness, it will be devastating to see one other marquee title misplaced on account of one other vital harm in WBC play. A hand or wrist difficulty could not carry the possibly season-ending weight of Diaz’s knee harm, however the worst-case state of affairs of a fracture or outright break might nonetheless imply a prolonged absence for Altuve.
Altuve continues to excel as he approaches his thirteenth Main League season, as he hit .300/.387/.533 with 28 homers in 2022 whereas serving to the Astros seize their second World Sequence championship. With eight All-Star appearances and the 2017 AL MVP Award, Altuve has turn into the face of this golden period of Astros baseball, and one of many sport’s most distinguished names.
Houston’s bench depth was already one thing of a query mark given the relative lack of huge league expertise readily available, and that might turn into an much more evident drawback if Altuve is out of motion. Utilityman Aledmys Diaz signed with the A’s in free company, and Houston was anticipated to make use of David Hensley and Mauricio Dubon as the first utilitymen this season. Rylan Bannon was additionally claimed off waivers from the Tigers and Dixon Machado is in camp on a minor league deal, however within the occasion that Altuve faces an extended absence, the Astros is perhaps rapidly scouring the marketplace for any free brokers obtainable now, or who may enter the market as groups make their closing spring cuts.
