HOUSTON.– The stellar Venezuelan player José Altuve will not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, after the Houston Astros requested that the player remain with the organization during Spring Training, a source close to the team reported this Monday. So far, the club has not issued an official confirmation.
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Altuve had stated last Saturday, during the Astros’ annual FanFest, his interest in representing Venezuela in the international tournament, a selection that will be managed by Omar López, current bench coach for Houston. Even López had indicated at the Winter Meetings that, if he joined the team, Altuve would be the starting second baseman and third batter of the team. The Astros’ stance primarily responds to medical history. During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Altuve suffered a fracture in his right thumb after being hit by a pitch in the quarterfinals against the United States, an injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for the first 43 games of the regular season. After returning in mid-May 2023, the Venezuelan recorded a solid offensive performance with a line of “.311/.393/.522”, in addition to 17 home runs and 51 RBIs in 90 games. In the following two seasons he remained healthy, playing 153 games in 2024 and 155 in 2025, the highest combined amount for an Astros player in that period. However, Altuve experienced discomfort in his right foot during the end of the 2025 season and underwent a procedure in November to drain fluid between the fourth and fifth toe. Even so, the player himself recently stated that he feels completely recovered. In the past campaign, Altuve was used in multiple positions, starting games as second baseman, designated hitter, and left fielder, although it is projected that in 2026 he will return to second base on a regular basis. At 36 years old, Altuve continues to build a Hall of Fame-worthy career, which includes three batting titles, the American League MVP award in 2017, two World Series rings, seven Silver Bats and nine All-Star selections. The Venezuelan will begin the season with 2,388 hits, the second-highest figure in Astros history, and is 112 hits away from reaching 2,500, remaining on track for the exclusive 3,000 hits club. Altuve has a contract with Houston for four more seasons. The selection of Venezuela, located in Group D of the World Baseball Classic, will play an exhibition game against the Astros on March 3, before debuting in the group stage on March 6 against the Netherlands, followed by commitments against Israel, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
