HOUSTON – Houston Astros President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced that second baseman Jose Altuve underwent successful surgery on his right knee Friday in Houston..
Altuve is expected to make a full recovery and to be ready to play for Spring Training.
He was Astros clearly playing with pain in his right for several weeks at the end of the season and throughout the playoffs.
So much so, that he was used as the designated hitter for the final three games of the ALCS against Boston.
After game five’s season-ending loss, Altuve was asked about the pain he’s been in.
“I’m not a superhero,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys in here probably playing in worse situations than I (am)."
Playing through it and leaving it all out there for the city. @JoseAltuve27 continues to be a legend. Get well soon brother! #MVP https://t.co/irJAZRC2So
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 20, 2018
Before game 5, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said about Altuve, "He's hurt. And if it was any other time of the year, he wouldn't be in the lineup or wouldn't be playing. He'd probably be on the DL or under different circumstances.”
"But he's showing up every day good spirits, ready to go, giving 100 percent of what he's got. And he should be commended and appreciated. The production that he's doing on one leg is pretty incredible. And he's trying not to talk about it. And therefore I am.”
“His knee’s the size of a grapefruit,” teammate Alex Bregman after game 5 about Altuve’s right knee.
Altuve said he would talk to the team’s training staff and doctors to try to figure out what course of action to take.
He missed 21 games while on the disabled list from July 28-August 21 due to discomfort in his right knee. It marked the first time that Altuve had spent any time on the DL in his major league career, which began in 2011.