Jose Altuve: two-time World Series champion, MVP, and, now, foot model?
The Astros star was caught in a bizarre scene Tuesday night when he was tossed from a game against the Padres with his bare foot out, making for a hilarious image.
Altuve is in the midst of another strong season, carrying a .301 AVG and 180 hits into the final 11 games of the year, and he once again has something to play for. The Astros are moving closer to clinching the AL West after overcoming an ugly start to the season, and Altuve badly wanted to take another step toward October with a win Tuesday.
Here's what you need to know about Altuve's unusual ejection against San Diego.
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Jose Altuve ejection, explained
Altuve was ejected with the score tied in the top of the ninth inning, after what umpires believed was a groundout fielded by Manny Machado at third base.
The only problem is the ball was fouled off the front of Altuve's foot, which umpires didn't catch, but Altuve very much felt. Slow-motion video of the moment shows the ball bounce off the former MVP's shoe.
DO WE NOT SEE ALTUVE’S SHOE MOVE
— Houston Central (@HoustonCentral_) September 18, 2024
UMP SAID IT DID NOT HIT HIM pic.twitter.com/mwoM8Plrf9
Altuve protested the call by taking off his shoe and sock to show the umpiring crew exactly where the ball hit him, but the call wasn't reviewable. He was swiftly ejected while manager Joe Espada continued to argue the decision.
Jose Altuve took off his sock and cleat to show the ump that he fouled this ball off his foot
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 18, 2024
He was promptly ejected pic.twitter.com/wtGGsdWdyL
Altuve is a passionate player, and the stakes were high. He was at the plate with a runner on second base, meaning one hit could give the Astros the lead. Instead, the inning ended on the so-called groundout.
The Astros did take the lead in the 10th inning, and they saw another apparent botched call in the bottom of the inning when a pitch that didn't hit San Diego's Jurickson Profar was ruled a hit-by-pitch.
The call stood upon review, enraging both dugouts. The Astros wanted a chance to get Profar out and end the game, while Profar wanted the opportunity to tie or even win the game with two runners on base. Instead, Profar loaded the bases and Machado ended the game with a ground ball.
Altuve told reporters after the game that the missed call "can't happen" in that situation and explained he didn't think he was doing anything different than when a player takes off his batting glove to show he was hit on the hand.
It's the second time Altuve has been a victim of the same call this season, as he was ejected in June after protesting a ball that appeared to hit the front of his shoe. That day, however, his shoe stayed on.
A livid Jose Altuve has been ejected from today’s Astros-Mets game pic.twitter.com/SbfCpOMwKQ
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 30, 2024
The Astros got the win Tuesday, which is all that matters at this point in the season, but Espada will certainly want Altuve's shoes to stay on going forward if it keeps him in the game.
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Jose Altuve salary
Altuve is making $31.5 million in 2024, and his salary is set to jump slightly to $32.5 million in 2025 after signing a new contract with the Astros in February.
The two-time World Series winner agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal with Houston ahead of the season, but it's heavily front loaded. Altuve will make $32.5 million in each of the first three seasons before earning $12.5 million in 2028 and $10 million in 2029.
Jose Altuve stats 2024
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | H | SB | OPS | OPS+ |
| 146 | .301 | 19 | 63 | 180 | 22 | .801 | 128 |
Altuve's .801 OPS is his lowest over a full season since 2013, but that says more about how great he's been than how he's playing in 2024. The nine-time All-Star is again batting over .300 and has 180 hits for the first time since 2017.
While his power has lagged behind a bit, Altuve's hit total could put him in position to make a push for 3,000 hits when all is said and done; he has 2,227 career hits and is under contract for the next five seasons.
