As the All-Star Game draws near, Jose Altuve is making a push for his tenth All-Star selection. This season, Altuve has been at the forefront of the Houston Astros’ revamped roster, primarily playing in left field rather than his traditional position at second base. Despite the shift not being an entirely comfortable transition for him, the team has managed to adapt effectively.
To bolster Altuve’s chances of securing a spot at the All-Star Game, the Astros opted to list him as a second baseman when the All-Star voting commenced earlier this month. This strategic decision appears to be paying off, as Altuve is currently the third-highest vote getter for second base in the American League. Leading the race is Gleyber Torres with 535,079 votes, followed by Jackson Holliday at 449,093 votes and Altuve close behind with 446,787 votes. This fierce competition highlights one of the tightest races in All-Star voting.
Since June, Altuve has been on fire, boasting an impressive .300 batting average with a .345 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. His timely performance has been crucial for the Astros, particularly as All-Star voting heats up, bringing increased attention to his candidacy for the second base position.
The ballot update further emphasizes that if Altuve had been listed as an outfielder, his path to the All-Star Game would likely be much more challenging. Meanwhile, the leading vote-getter among all players is Aaron Judge with over 1.5 million votes. In the American League outfielder category, Riley Greene follows with 675,070 votes, while Mike Trout and Steven Kwan trail behind.
While Altuve still faces hurdles to secure his All-Star appearance, his current standing as a second baseman helps pave a clearer path to achieving this significant milestone. With the way he has been performing, fans and supporters of the Astros are hopeful that he will make it to the All-Star Game, adding another achievement to his already illustrious career.