Despite the Astros’ disappointing 2025 season, fans continued to cheer José Altuve as he walked off the field for Houston’s final game of the year. The Venezuelan native has been the Astros' rock for years and is widely considered one of the best players in the franchise's history.

Altuve was born in Maracay, Venezuela, on May 6, 1990. Despite being told he was too small to go pro, his determination and drive for baseball earned him a place in the major leagues. Instead of letting the skeptics get to him, he relied on speed, contact hitting, and diligence to reach the top. There is no doubt that Altuve possesses a burning passion and an exceptional work ethic.

He was first discovered by the Houston Astros franchise in 2007, when he was signed as an international free agent. Over the next few years, he climbed through the minor league system and made his major league debut on July 20, 2011, with the Houston Astros.

Taking a look at his minor league stats shows exactly why he moved up to the majors so quickly per MILB MILB :

2008 – Greeneville Astros (Rookie League): .284 AVG, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 8 SB

2009 – Tri-City ValleyCats (Short-Season A): .324 AVG, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 21 SB

2010 – Lancaster JetHawks (High-A): .308 AVG, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 39 SB

2011 – Lancaster JetHawks & Corpus Christi Hooks (High-A & Double-A): .389 AVG, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 24 SB

After a successful run in the minor leagues, Altuve continued to thrive and prove his doubters wrong, especially during some of the Astros' greatest seasons from 2017 to 2022. During this time, the team commanded the league, making four appearances in the World Series and winning two championships. They secured their first title against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 (4–3) and their second against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 (4–2). Altuve consistently delivered in clutch situations.

José Altuve 2017 World Series Highlights:

Game 5:

Altuve hit an incredible three-run homer, tying the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning, which kept Houston in the game. After ten innings, Houston secured a 13-12 victory.

José Altuve 2022 World Series Highlights:

Game 2:

Altuve collected three hits during the game. He started the first inning with a line drive double down the left field line, showcasing what the Astros were bringing to the plate early on. He followed that up with a single in the fifth inning and another single in the seventh, maintaining momentum throughout the game. This contributed to another Astros win, with a final score of 5-2.

Even after the Astros’ golden years, Altuve has continued to contribute at a high level, as his stats from 2023–2025 show,  per MLB:

2023: .311 AVG, 17 HR, 14 SB, .915 OPS

2024: .295 AVG, 20 HR, 22 SB, .789 OPS

2025: .265 AVG, 26 HR, 10 SB, .771 OPS

With a stellar career, this 35-year-old baseball veteran was bound to have a few seasons end earlier than any MLB player would hope. Altuve will once again be in the starting lineup for the 2026 season. While he has historically been a second baseman, his exact role for the 2026 season has not been confirmed.