José Carlos Altuve is a second baseman with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. Altuve was signed by the Astros as an amateur free agent in 2007, and he debuted in the major leagues in 2011.
Altuve was born and raised in Maracay, Venezuela. He first met Salvador Pérez, a Kansas City Royals catcher who would play in the major leagues, when he was seven years old.
Beginning in Maracay, the two-faced off against each other frequently in American League games. Altuve was the shortest active MLB player as of 2017 at 5 feet 6 inches, and he batted and threw right-handed (1.68 m). He is 165 pounds as per his listing (75 kg).
Altuve led the American League (AL) in hits from 2014 to 2017, averaging at least 200 per season. In that time, he won three batting titles.
Altuve went to a Houston Astros tryout camp in Maraca when he was 16 years old. He was evaluated by the organization, and after impressing team executives, they signed him to a contract on March 6, 2007, as an undrafted free agent with a $15,000 (USD, $20,000 now) bonus.
On July 19, 2011, the Astros gave Altuve his first promotion to the major leagues. At the 2011 All-Star Futures Game, he represented the Astros. On Baseball America’s 2011 Minor League All-Star squad, he was selected as the second baseman.
How Old Is Jose Altuve?
Jose Altuve was born in Venezuela on May 6, 1990. He is currently 32 years old.