ANAHEIM, Calif. — Two years after making the National League’s All-Star team, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is becoming a more disciplined hitter.
Altuve entered the season having struck out 188 times while receiving only 77 walks in his major league career. However, after the Astros’ 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, the 24-year-old Venezuelan has 14 walks and just 15 strikeouts in 206 plate appearances this year.
“His mental strike zone has gotten better, which is helping his strike-zone discipline,” Astros manager Bo Porter said. “He’s gotten more at-bats, and he understands now the value of counts, situations, when they’re OK with walking him, and he’s allowing it play out.”
Playing it out for Altuve means an 11-game hitting streak, tying his career best. During the streak, Altuve is hitting .400 (20-for-50). By going 2-for-4 against the Angels, Altuve raised his average to .305 and moved into a tie with Toronto’s Melky Cabrera for the most hits in the American League, 58.
By contrast, in 2012, when he was the Astros’ only representative for the All-Star Game, Altuve struck out 74 times and walked 40 times while batting .290.
“It’s been phenomenal,” Porter said. “I’m so proud of this guy.”