Astros star Jose Altuve needed just 146 games to rack up 200 hits

On Wednesday night, Jose Altuve collected his 200th hit of the season, reaching the mark in just 146 games -- the fewest since Ichiro did it in 144 games in 2009. In fact, he is just the 2nd Astros player with 200 hits in a season, with Craig Biggio being the first.

This year, Altuve is hitting a league-leading .336/.373/.447 with an AL-best 52 steals and 41 doubles. Those are superstar numbers, no matter his height.

While this isn't meant to be another "Jose Altuve is short" article, I suppose it's impossible to ignore Altuve's size entirely -- particularly when it adds to his compelling story.

Because of his height, Altuve had to fight harder for every promotion. Despite a .327/.386/.481 line through the minors, numbers that are remarkably similar to his production this season, Altuve was never listed on Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list. He was never ranked on any of their Astros Top 10 lists either, even after hitting .301 with 15 HR and 42 SB between two levels in 2010.

Altuve was never supposed to make it. And yet he did.

According to Baseball-Reference, only 167 players 5-foot-6 or shorter have played Major League Baseball. Only 50 of them have collected 200 hits in a career. And only four others have reached 200 hits in a season.

Phil Rizzuto had 200 in 1950. Hack Wilson, during a time of heightened offense across the game, had 208 hits to go along with an absurd 56 home runs and 191 RBI in 1930. Joe Sewell had 204 hits in 1925. Wee Willie Keeler collected 202 in 1901.

Notice anything? It hadn't been done for 64 years. 

Which makes sense. In 1900, the average man stood 5-foot-6. That number has now grown to 5-foot-10. Quite simply, there aren't many Altuves left -- and the ones that do exist are simply dwarfed by other professional athletes. Of the 167 players 5-foot-6 or shorter to play in the Majors, all but 15 of them played before 1960. 

If you haven't yet, it's time to stop talking about Altuve as a successful 'short' player -- Altuve has quite simply become one of the best baseball players in the world.