San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
For Altuve, return to field was no given
Former MVP wanted to know about risks to wife, baby girl before committing to restart
HOUSTON — Astros were strewn on each side of home plate when Jose Altuve arrived to start a second simulated inning against Lance McCullers Jr.
Some lounged on the grass. Those scheduled to follow Altuve tried to time McCullers’ warmup pitches. Manager Dusty Baker lingered near the backstop behind a netted screen.
Altuve twirled his bat and tried not to spit. McCullers offered the first pitch. Altuve blistered it back up the middle, narrowly missing the top of McCullers’ head. It bounced twice in shallow center field, a base hit to everyone in attendance. Altuve exited the batter’s box. He tried to remain at a distance, but banter persisted between teammates.
“When we practice or hit (batting practice) we’re all just shaking hands and hugging each other,” Altuve said. “Those things are the most difficult, to not get so close.”
Yet Altuve has conditioned himself to remain distant. During three months of mandated social distancing that sometimes required staying at home and placed public health at the forefront of societal discussion, Altuve followed every order precisely. He did not leave home “in probably months.”
“My wife was pregnant, so I had to do it,” Altuve said.
Altuve’s wife, Nina, gave birth to the couple’s second daughter during the shutdown. That he would play baseball afterward even as the outbreak continued to worsen was not a guarantee.
During his decision-making process, Altuve consulted the family’s doctors, inquiring about the risks to his wife and baby daughter.
“The answer I got was they don’t qualify for the high risk percentage of people,” Altuve said. “That’s why I decided to join my team.”
Angels outfielder Mike Trout acknowledged Friday he “still doesn’t feel comfortable” playing this season while his wife, Jessica, is pregnant. Rockies infielder Ian Desmond cited his wife’s fifth pregnancy among the many factors in his decision to opt out of the season.
Former Astro Gerrit Cole became a first-time Thursday.
“Both of us want me to play,” Cole said, referring to his wife, Amy. “If there’s obviously some significant breakouts or something that would really kind of put us in danger, we may adjust. But I have faith that we can get through this and get through it safely.”
Altuve acknowledged that many players have “concerns” about the league’s attempt to play, but said he was happy to be back on the field. He said the next few days will carry more importance for the
father season-long outlook for “every single MLB team.”
“It seems like the staff is doing everything it can to keep us safe,” Altuve said. “It’s a little bit different than normal — we know this — but we’re getting slowly comfortable to where we can actually go and do everything we’re able to do.”
Altuve chronically chews his nails during games and is one of the team’s most frequent spitters. He must stop both habits this season, but neither will be his most difficult.
“Not being able to shake hands, get close to Carlos (Correa) — because he’s my double play partner — or talk to him,” Altuve said. “I think we’re doing fine, but we’re going to get better and better.”
The birth of his child limited Altuve’s baseball activity during the shutdown, but amenities at his home allowed him to remain well conditioned. But Saturday was his first live batting practice “in a while.”
The five-time Silver Slugger quickly silenced any questions about how he’d respond.
“He took some of best batting practice the the last few days that I’ve ever seen,” Baker said. “And I’ve been around some good ones.
“This guy works. He has an idea of what he’s doing. He’s strong as heck and highly skilled and intelligent. I’m looking forward to seeing this guy on an everyday basis. I saw him from across the field, and didn’t really appreciate what he could do until I’m around him every day. He comes to play and he works hard.”