Jose Altuve is a Venezuelan professional baseball player who has made a name for himself as one of the best second basemen in the game. He began his career with the Houston Astros organization in 2007, and after a few years in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut in 2011.
Altuve quickly established himself as a valuable player for the Astros, earning his first All-Star selection in 2012. He continued to improve over the next few years, becoming a consistent hitter and a reliable fielder. In 2014, he won his first batting title, hitting .341 for the season.
The following year, Altuve helped lead the Astros to their first playoff appearance since 2005. He hit .154 in the team's wild card game loss to the Kansas City Royals, but his performance throughout the season earned him his second All-Star selection and his second batting title, with a .338 average.
In 2016, Altuve had perhaps his best season yet. He hit .338 for the year, won his third batting title, and was named the American League MVP. He also helped lead the Astros to the playoffs for the second time in three years, though they were eliminated in the division series.
The following year, Altuve and the Astros had a historic season. They won a franchise-record 101 games and went on to win the World Series, with Altuve playing a key role throughout the postseason. He hit .310 in the playoffs, including three home runs in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. He was named the ALCS MVP and helped lead the Astros to their first championship in franchise history.
Altuve continued to be a consistent performer for the Astros over the next few years, earning All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019. He also won his fourth batting title in 2019, hitting .329 for the season.
Throughout his career, Altuve has been known for his speed on the basepaths, his ability to hit for average, and his solid defense at second base. He has also been a leader in the Astros clubhouse, helping to guide the team through the fallout from the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the organization in 2019.
As of 2021, Altuve remains an important part of the Astros lineup and is widely regarded as one of the best second basemen in the game.
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