Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve made his 2020 spring training debut at the plate on Monday as Houston took on the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.
And it went about how Altuve probably expected given what unfolded with the Astros cheating scandal. It’s going to be a long season for the Astros.
Video from the ballpark captured a Dodgers fan in a Clayton Kershaw jersey essentially lecturing Altuve from eight rows back. The fan said, “I love you, but come on, man, someone’s gotta give it up. For these guys, come on!” Altuve appeared to be looking in the fan’s direction, but he didn’t seem to engage with the heckler.
Pre game #Dodgers fan giving it to Altuve but Astros fan has his back. #Astros pic.twitter.com/jwBYMPqk9Q
— David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) February 24, 2020
When Altuve approached the plate for his first spring training at-bat this year, he was loudly booed by the fans — a similar treatment the team received in its Grapefruit League opener.
Jose Altuve’s first appearance at the plate this spring. #astros pic.twitter.com/axIfy3G1ch
— David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) February 24, 2020
In his third plate appearance, Altuve was hit by the pitch. But it didn’t seem to be intentional. He took an off-speed pitch to the leg from Tigers reliever Nick Ramirez. If the Tigers wanted to throw at Altuve, they wouldn’t have waited until his third at-bat, and it wouldn’t have been with a breaking ball.
Altuve went 1 for 2 with a double and a strikeout in the Astros’ 11-1 win.
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