Astros second baseman Jose Altuve doubled in the third inning Wednesday night during a four-run Houston rally in what would eventually be an 11-7 Phillies win. The double was important, though, in terms of individual history: it was the 2,500th hit of Altuve's career. The 2,500 milestone isn't generally a huge one, but rather more of a marker on the way to perhaps a bigger milestone -- one that usually lands players in Cooperstown.
Altuve sits 103rd in MLB history in hits right now, but the herd thins north of this spot. Only 56 players have gotten to 2,750. Then there's the hallowed 3,000-hit club.
Only 33 players in history have gotten there. Everyone to reach 3,000 hits is in the Hall of Fame, other than the special exceptions Pete Rose (previously banned), Albert Pujols (not yet eligible), Miguel Cabrera (not yet eligible), Alex Rodriguez (PED ties) and Rafael Palmeiro (PED ties). Pujols and Cabrera are headed there soon enough and it wouldn't be surprising to see Rose admitted now after his ban was lifted.
Altuve's interesting here because there's a black eye on his résumé, too, in the baggage from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal. Now, Carlos Beltrán got in the Hall of Fame this past summer, but he had to wait a few ballots, almost certainly due to his involvement in this same situation. This is something that might hang over Altuve's head more than Beltrán's, too, because 2017 was Beltrán's final season and he played sparingly, although he was credited as the ringleader of the scheme.
There will certainly be a number of voters who will note that Altuve's prime ran mostly through the years where the Astros were allegedly running their sign-stealing operation. If he gets to 3,000 hits, it might make for quite the conundrum for a bevy of voters. Again, Altuve has 2,500 hits right now.
He's in his age-36 season and certainly slowing down. Through 2023, he was a career .307 hitter who averaged 158 hits per season (199 per 162 games, which accounts for partial seasons during his rookie year and in 2020). He had 185 hits in 2024, but fell back to 156 last season and only has 112 this year as a .244 hitter.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
