José Altuve Continues to Add to His Remarkable Astros Career

The Houston Astros' postseason run was short, but at least they made it, unlike last season. The Astros somehow made the playoffs, finishing the regular season 81-81. Despite the ups and downs, a handful of players stayed consistent and helped this rocky team reach the postseason. One of those players would be long-time Astros player José Altuve.

José Altuve has been a star player since his Major League debut on July 20, 2011. The now 36-year-old has been the Astros' rock for years and is widely considered one of the best players in the franchise's history.

Despite being told he was too small to go pro, he earned a place in the major leagues through his determination and drive for baseball. He learned to rely on contact hitting and diligence, and the 2026 season was no different. At 36, Altuve kept making big hits, especially when it mattered most. 

Here is a look at Altuve's stats for the regular season for 2026, per MLB:

2026 Regular Season Stats:

AVG: .250, H: 131, HR: 16, RBI: 50, R: 70, SB: 5, OBP: .306, OPS: .701 

Let's take a look at his postseason stats: 

He went 2-for-8, hit .250, and hit one home run and drove in one run. Not bad considering how short their postseason was. 

Altuve ended his 16th major league season with 131 hits, 16 home runs, and a .250 AVG. He had a solid season, but next season he turns 37, and the question is how much he has left in the tank. 

Altuve has three years left on his contract, and whatever he does with the remainder, he has had a remarkable career. 

Career Postseason: 

HR: 28, RBI: 57, R: 90, AVG: .270, OPS: .842 

The one home run he hit during the Wild Card series against the Chicago White Sox put him one home run behind Manny Ramirez, who holds the all-time lead in postseason home runs with 29. 

For a little perspective on exactly what this All-Star player has done in his career, here is a look at his career stats: 

Career Regular Season: 

H: 2,519, HR: 271, RBI: 939, R: 1,306, SB: 330, AVG: .300, OBP: .357, OPS: .819

Altuve is one of 102 players in MLB history to reach 2,500 career hits. Only 33 have gone on to hit 3,000. 

Heading into the 2027 season, Altuve will start his 17th major league season. Altuve remains an established veteran in the lineup. He reached some major milestones this season, but he is not done yet. The 2026 season didn't end the way they hoped, but Altuve will have another shot in 2027 to add to his already huge career.

Video source: Joe Espada postgame press conference, MLB.com