DENVER — Jose Altuve made history on Wednesday night as he ascended the Houston Astros’ all-time hits leaderboard in a game against the Colorado Rockies. He notched his 2,314th hit with a bunt single in the first inning and followed up with a two-run single in the sixth, surpassing Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell’s previous mark of 2,314 hits, placing him second in the franchise’s history. Altuve still trails Craig Biggio, who holds the top spot with 3,060 hits.
As of this week, Altuve stands as one of the most prolific active hitters in Major League Baseball, second only to Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had 2,351 hits before the game. Altuve is in his 15th MLB season and is contracted with the Astros through 2029, meaning he could potentially reach the 3,000-hit milestone by the end of his career — he will turn 39 that year.
Altuve has maintained an impressive average of 197 hits per 162 games throughout his career. If he continues this pace, given that he recorded 185 hits last season in 153 games, he could be close to the landmark figure when his contract concludes. Notably, he was the fastest to reach 1,500 hits in just 1,190 games, quicker than the average of other potential 3,000-hit candidates.
With only 33 players in MLB history achieving 3,000 hits, the milestone holds significant prestige. Miguel Cabrera was the latest to join this elite group when he achieved the feat on April 23, 2022. Should Altuve attain this milestone, it could enhance an already fascinating Hall of Fame candidacy, especially considering the scrutiny he faced due to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017. Despite his earlier involvement in the controversy, Altuve has expressed remorse for those actions, which may complicate his eventual Hall of Fame prospects.
This achievement and his potential future milestones could showcase the resilience and growth of Altuve as a player. His journey highlights the ongoing evolution of talented athletes as they navigate both triumphs and challenges in their careers.