Cooperstown Chances examines the Baseball Hall of Fame case of one candidate each week. This week: Jose Altuve.
Who he is: Jose Altuve is coming into his own. Already a three-time All Star who just turned 26 on May 6, the diminutive Astros second baseman is having the best year of his career. The difference? Newly-discovered power.
Altuve’s been a hit machine, averaging 192 hits a season over his first four full years in the majors. But he’s averaged just eight home runs in that span. Altuve blossomed somewhat as a power hitter last year with 15 dingers — just six shy of his career total entering the 2015 season.