With Venezuela 1 win from first Classic title, Altuve showing his support

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Venezuela’s biggest fan in the World Baseball Classic will be back in his seats behind home plate on Tuesday night, cheering on his fellow countrymen in the championship game against the U.S. at loanDepot park in Miami (7 CT on FOX).

Jose Altuve, the Astros’ All-Star second baseman who couldn’t play in the WBC because of insurance issues, said he was making the 70-mile drive to Miami to watch the final. He was spotted on TV behind home plate, wearing a Venezuela jersey, in Monday’s thrilling semifinal win over Italy. Venezuela advanced to the Classic final for the first time.

“I’ll be there tonight again in the same seats,” Altuve said. “It doesn’t matter how the game goes, I’ll be there supporting my boys.”

Atuve, who sustained a fractured right thumb after being hit by a pitch in a WBC game in 2023 and missed the first 43 games of the regular season following surgery, worked out with the Astros on Tuesday morning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. He showered and then hit the road to Miami.

“It was fun supporting those guys,” he said. “They’re playing so good and the atmosphere and adrenaline you experience playing those games is crazy.”

Venezuela is managed by Astros bench coach Omar López, who helped scout and sign Altuve out of Venezuela at 16 years old and was his first manager in professional baseball. Altuve wanted to play for López, but being a fan isn’t so bad, either.

“In the beginning, you’re kind of like, ‘I wish I was there,'” Altuve said. “Then, you see these guys playing and they don’t need anything else. They got what they need to win and hopefully they make it happen tonight.”

Altuve is one of the most accomplished players to come out of Venezuela. He’s won three batting titles, the 2017 American League MVP, two World Series championships, seven Silver Slugger Awards and made nine All-Star selections.

Altuve enters this season with 2,388 hits, which is the second most in Astros history. He’s 112 hits shy of reaching 2,500 and remains on a path to join Hall of Famer Craig Biggio as a member of baseball’s prestigious 3,000-hit club.