Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for Venezuela, following a request from his club. The decision stems from concerns over a previous injury sustained during the 2023 tournament. Altuve expressed a desire to play but acknowledged the matter was out of his hands.
Jose Altuve, the 36-year-old All-Star second baseman for the Houston Astros, has chosen not to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic at the request of his team, according to a source reported on Monday. The Astros have not officially confirmed the news, but Altuve's comments at the team's FanFest on Saturday highlighted his willingness to represent Venezuela. "I signed the paper that I’m willing to go play like I did the last two WBCs," Altuve told reporters. "Always an honor to represent my country... I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, but it seems this year is not up to me. Hopefully everything clears up, and I’ll be able to go."
The Astros' reluctance traces back to Altuve's injury in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he fractured his right thumb after being hit by a pitch. He underwent surgery and missed the first 43 games of the 2023 MLB regular season. Upon returning in mid-May, Altuve posted a strong .311/.393/.522 slash line with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs over 90 games. However, the early absence impacted the team's start. In 2025, Altuve played 155 games—his most since 2016—despite a sore right foot in the final weeks that required a November procedure to remove fluid from between his fourth and fifth toes. He batted .265 with 80 runs, 26 homers, and 77 RBIs that year, his lowest average since his rookie season outside of the shortened 2020 campaign.
Omar López, the Astros' bench coach and manager of Venezuela, noted at last month's Winter Meetings that such an injury could occur in spring training, but the Astros prefer to avoid the risk. López had planned to start Altuve at second base and bat him third if he participated. One report suggests the decision may involve insurance considerations rather than a direct prohibition. Altuve, who enters 2026 with 2,388 career hits—second in Astros history—is expected to return full-time to second base after splitting time across positions in 2025. Under contract for four more seasons, he remains on track for 3,000 hits and a Hall of Fame career, bolstered by three batting titles, the 2017 AL MVP, two World Series titles, seven Silver Sluggers, and nine All-Star nods.
Venezuela, in Pool D, faces the Astros in an exhibition on March 3 in West Palm Beach, Florida, before pool play against the Netherlands (March 6), Israel (March 7), Nicaragua (March 9), and the Dominican Republic (March 11). Altuve declared himself 100 percent healthy at FanFest, positioning him for a focused spring training and another championship push with Houston.