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MLB Makes Questionable Jose Altuve Announcement Before Astros-Athletics Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 6:56 PM ET

Remember back in the spring when the Houston Astros made a big deal about longtime second baseman Jose Altuve moving to left field?

Maybe, just maybe, Major League Baseball didn't get the memo.

As of Monday afternoon, Altuve ranked third behind Detroit Tigers veteran Gleyber Torres and Baltimore Orioles rising star Jackson Holliday in All-Star voting among AL second basemen. Torres led with 535,079 votes, considerably ahead of Holliday (449,093) and Altuve (446,787).

The problem: Altuve has started 35 games in left field, more than twice as many as he has at second (16) or at DH (17).

We're not sure how or why Altuve landed on the ballot as a second baseman. Given that voting opened on June 4, the league should have had ample time to designate him as an outfielder.

At least with fourth-place Jazz Chisholm Jr., he at least spent the season's first month as the New York Yankees' second baseman. He moved to third base in early June upon returning from an oblique injury and is expected to remain at the hot corner indefinitely.

Major League Baseball designating Chisholm as a second baseman makes sense. We can't say the same for Altuve, especially given that he began the season in the outfield.

Jose Altuve doesn't even come close to this line drive with a 60% catch probability.

Turns out, he just wanted to show off his absolute CANNON from left field! pic.twitter.com/KWo1W2NDzJ
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) May 28, 2025

Curiously, Major League Baseball correctly listed Tigers veteran Javier Báez as an outfielder. However, Báez opened the season splitting time between third base and shortstop, and he didn't become a full-time outfielder until April 21.

Either way, Altuve likely needs the fan vote for him to make his 10th All-Star Game. Altuve entered Monday's showdown with the Athletics batting .274 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and a .747 OPS, his worst since 2013.

Altuve, who turned 35 in May, has only been worth -0.3 bWAR for the first-place Astros.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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