Astros get latest Jose Altuve injury update on Opening Day

The Houston Astros received an update on second baseman Jose Altuve and when he could return from his broken right thumb.

The 2023 MLB season has officially arrived on Thursday, March 30. This is the first Opening Day since 1968 in which every team played. As is the case every year, the baseball world follows the reigning World Series champions, to see if they can repeat. The Houston Astros look to accomplish a feat that hasn’t been done since the New York Yankees did so back in 2000.

But, the Astros will have to start off the year without star second baseman Jose Altuve, who suffered a broken right thumb while playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. There is a new update regarding Altuve.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted out that Altuve is set to be placed in a smaller cast this Friday, and is now expected to return to the team in June.

Jose Altuve expected to return from broken thumb in June

As Nightengale says in his tweet, this is the first time in his career that Altuve isn’t in Houston’s Opening Day lineup.

Altuve’s injury occurred in Venezuela’s quarterfinal matchup against the United States. During an at-bat, Daniel Bard threw a pitch that incidentally connected with Altuve’s right hand. It was later determined that the second baseman had suffered a fractured right thumb.

Just last year, Altuve recorded a .300 batting average, a .387 on-base percentage, a .533 slugging percentage, 28 home runs, 57 RBI, 103 runs scored, and 158 hits in 146 games played.

On Opening Day, the Astros are slated to have Mauricio Dubon start at second base for the team’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

Astros fans will have to wait until June for Altuve to make his return to the team.