Astros' Altuve collects 2,000th career hit

During the Houston Astros’ 10-3 home loss to the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 19, there was a cause for celebration in the fifth inning when veteran infielder Jose Altuve collected his 2,000th career hit. Altuve is now the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone.

“The fastest Astro to reach 2,000 hits,” the incumbent World Series champions wrote in an Aug. 19 Twitter post.

According to an Aug. 20 report on MLB.com, Altuve, who recorded a 3-for-5 performance at the plate that night, became the third player in franchise history to join the exclusive club when he ripped a single that bounced off the out-of-town scoreboard at Minute Maid Park.

“I know we lost today and not in a good way, but I’m really happy and thankful with my teammates, my family and God,” Altuve said per the report. “Two-thousand is a huge accomplishment.” 

Altuve, a 33-year-old second baseman, joined the Astros organization as a teenager and went on to become its most recognized player. He now sits behind the famed duo of Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell, who registered 2,314 hits, and Craig Biggio, who has 3,060 hits to his name. According to the Astros, the 5-foot-6 Venezuelan became the seventh active player and the first to make his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2011 or later to reach the rarified plateau.

ESPN reports that following Altuve's milestone hit, he was tagged out as he tried to reach second base, but that didn’t stop fans and the team from showering him with cheers and applause. 

"That's quite an accomplishment," fourth-year skipper Dusty Baker told ESPN. "A couple other Hall of Famers here got 2,000 hits. Hopefully he can stay healthy and be around for the next 1,000.” 

The Astros had to begin their title defense without Altuve, who sustained an injury during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and missed a chuck of the first half of the season, according to ESPN.