WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Spring Training results are not terribly important this time of year for most players, but that doesn't mean that Houston's 3-3 tie with the Mets at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches wasn’t significant for one particular Astros player.

José Altuve, who underwent surgery last year to repair a broken right kneecap, recorded his first two at-bats of the spring as the Astros' designated hitter, lining to left field and popping out to first base.

In his first at-bat, Altuve had to contend with the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard, a tough opponent no matter the time of year.

"It wasn't easy," Altuve said. "But at least I hit the ball."

Because health and the simple act of feeling normal running the bases is more important than anything else, this was viewed as a win by the Astros' second baseman.

"I felt like myself," Altuve said. "It's Spring Training, of course, I'm trying to get my timing back, and working really hard being 100 percent for the first game of the season. I really liked my at-bats and how I felt today."

Astros manager AJ Hinch called this appearance by Altuve “a very big deal,” given everything the six-time All-Star went through both while he was injured and in the ensuing months of recovery.

“I think we underestimate what athletes do to get back on the field after injury,” Hinch said. “He loves to play, he's never had to go through something like this. I know it's a meaningless Spring Training game, or a day that you have to get off the calendar. But it was important, and it meant something to him.”

Astros react to Straw's grab

It was difficult to discern who was more excited about Myles Straw's highlight-reel catch of a Tim Tebow fly ball on Sunday -- Straw, or his outfield mate, Tony Kemp.

Kemp had a close-up view of one of the best catches made so far this spring, when Straw, the Astros' lightning-fast defensive whiz, first went airborne and then glided to the ground in deep left-center with the ball firmly in his glove, robbing Tebow of extra bases during the game between the Astros and Mets in Port St. Lucie.

Kemp threw his arms around Straw and kept his arm around him as they pair ran toward the dugout, laughing as it discussed the play.

"He said, 'Think that's going to be No. 1 on SportsCenter?'" Kemp recalled. "I said, 'I think it's got a really good chance.' That was a great catch."

Straw said he saw the ball come off the bat and, noting that the wind was blowing toward him, knew he needed to take off right away. "I looked at Kempy," Straw said. "We made eye contact. We looked at each other and I kind of knew it was my ball, by the look he gave me."

Though it's common for Spring Training games to feature several lesser-known players who won't be on the final 25-man roster at the end of camp, there was no mystery surrounding who Straw robbed of extra bases with that acrobatic play.

"The crowd, they love him there," Straw said of Tebow, a former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner. "He hit the ball and the stadium got pretty loud. When I made the catch, the fans cheered for me. It was pretty cool."

Straw's catch was brought up during the Astros' daily morning meeting, led by manager AJ Hinch.

"I'm not sure if Tebow knew who Myles Straw was before the play," Hinch said. "He probably remembers him now. I think he was quoted as saying, 'That guy.'"

Up next

The Astros will travel to Jupiter on Tuesday to play the Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Gerrit Cole will make his spring debut for the Astros, while right-hander Dan Straily will take the mound for Miami.