Health is likely the Astros' 2026 mantra, and asking José Altuve to sit out of the World Baseball Classic is just one of the ways they plan to keep their players healthy. This is another example of the Astros taking a cautious approach as they prepare for the 2026 season.
At the moment, Altuve is fully healthy, but he has been injured during the WBC in the past. The most notable injury came in 2023, when he was hit by a pitch and broke his thumb, requiring surgery, which caused him to miss 43 games, leaving the Astros without one of their star players for more than a quarter of the regular season.
Altuve has participated in the WBC twice before, but the club has asked him to sit this year out and focus on Spring Training, which is what he plans to do.
While he may be healthy now, he was dealing with foot issues late in the 2025 season, so sitting out gives him a chance to stay healthy and focus on the upcoming year. It does not appear that the decision was entirely his, but sitting out significantly increases his chances of being on the field and healthy at the start of the 2026 season.
Venezuela will have to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic without José Altuve, but he could still have the opportunity to watch his teammates participate. If they make it to the knockout round, he could see them compete at Daikin Park and root for his home country.