Altuve undergoes surgery on knee
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve underwent right knee surgery Friday in Houston and is “expected to make a full recovery and be ready to play for spring training,” the club said in a statement. Altuve’s exact injury was not revealed, nor was the type of surgery he received. He missed 21 games during the regular season with what the team termed “right knee discomfort.”
The reigning American League MVP played most of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox “on one leg,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
After a 4-1, season-ending loss in Game 5 on Thursday, Altuve said he would speak with trainers and lay out a plan for the knee injury which undermined his season.
“It’s difficult, but like I said, I’m not a superhero, I’m not the only guy who has done this,” Altuve said. “There are guys who’ve played in worst situations than I.”
After prematurely exiting a game against the Colorado Rockies on July 25, Altuve spent more than a month on the disabled list — the first DL stint of his major league career.
Altuve returned Aug. 21, but he only slashed .268/.359/.402 during the ensuing 145 plate appearances. Altuve finished the 2017 season with 169 hits — his fewest since 2012. He earned his sixth AllStar nod before the injury.
In the postseason, Altuve reaggravated the knee in Game 2 of the ALCS and again on a slide into second base during Game 3. He served as the Astros’ designated hitter for three of the five games, finishing the series 5-for-20.
“Tremendous heart. It’s all about heart with him. He is such a great example of what’s right,” Hinch said after the Game 5 loss. “I’ve said that over and over again … I wish you guys knew what he had to go through to play every day and get himself prepared and then contribute and do well.”