Saturday, December 06

MILWAUKEE -- Turning 35 years old on Tuesday, Astros star Jose Altuve still has a solid chance to break several of Hall of Fame second baseman Craig Biggio’s all-time club offensive records. Biggio, who retired in 2007, still holds Astros records in several categories, including runs, hits, doubles and total bases.
 
Biggio played 20 seasons in Houston and was on the injured list only once, so he’s amassed some numbers that will take Altuve several more years to reach. Biggio retired at 41 years old, and Altuve is signed through the 2029 season, which would take him through his age-39 season. He’s on pace to catch several of Biggio’s records when comparing their production at the same age, but whether he’ll be able to catch Biggio still remains to be seen.
 
The big one, of course, is reaching 3,000 career hits. Biggio finished his career with 3,060 hits -- the only Astros player to reach that milestone. Altuve entered Tuesday only 47 hits behind Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell for second place on Houston’s all-time list (Altuve - 2,267, Bagwell - 2,314).

“I think there’s a lot of hits left to get to 3,000, so maybe when I’m a little closer I think a little more about it,” Altuve said earlier this season.
 
Altuve, who moved from second base to the outfield this season like Biggio, is already considered the greatest player in Astros history. That stems largely from his postseason production, which is among the greats of the game. He’s won three batting titles, a Most Valuable Player award and two World Series titles.
 
“Hopefully, I’m going to be able to be around and see him get 3,000 hits,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “That would be incredible. I’ve been very fortunate and blessed to be around him.”
 
Let’s compare where Biggio was at the end of the 2000 season, when he was 34 years old, to Altuve’s career numbers through 34 years old:

Games played
Biggio’s record: 2,850
Biggio after age-34 season: 1,800
Altuve entering 35th birthday: 1,854  
The skinny: For comparison purposes, the two have played close to the same number of games at this point in their careers, with Altuve being one year younger (21 years, 75 days) than Biggio (22 years, 195 days) when he debuted. Had it not been for the pandemic-shortened season and a broken thumb in 2023, Altuve would already be approaching 2,000 games.
 
At-bats
Biggio’s record: 10,876
Biggio after age-34 season: 6,766
Altuve entering 35th birthday: 7,428
The skinny: Both men hit leadoff for much of their careers and both were on some high-octane offensive teams, which led to the lineup rolling over aplenty. Altuve would need close to 700 at-bats a year through the end of his current contract to have a shot at Biggio.
 
Runs scored
Biggio’s record: 1,844
Biggio after age-34 season: 1,187
Altuve entering 35th birthday: 1,172
The skinny: This is one of the few areas where Biggio has paced better than Altuve to this point, but barely. Altuve played on three consecutive 100-loss teams that had woeful offenses, so he’s been at a disadvantage at times. Altuve’s had only four 100-run seasons in his career and would need to stack a few of those up in his late 30s to run down Biggio, which is unlikely.

Hits

Biggio’s record: 3,060

Biggio after age-34 season: 1,969

Altuve entering 35th birthday: 2,267

The skinny: This is the big one. As you can see, Altuve is well ahead of Biggio’s pace through 34 years old, which bodes well for him. If his legs and bat-to-balls skill don’t betray him as he ages further, he has a real shot to catch Biggio before the end of his contract.

Doubles

Biggio’s record: 668

Biggio after age-34 season: 402

Altuve entering 35th birthday: 435

The skinny: When Biggio retired, he had the most doubles by any right-handed hitter in history (Albert Pujols has since passed him). Altuve hasn’t had a 40-double season since 2016, so he’s probably a longshot to surpass Biggio.

Extra-base hits

Biggio’s record: 1,014

Biggio after age-34 season: 605

Altuve entering 35th birthday: 699

The skinny: Altuve is well ahead of Biggio at this point of their careers, but this race will come down to Altuve’s ability to pile up doubles and still be a long-ball threat. Biggio averaged 19 home runs his last seven seasons and had four 40-double seasons in his late 30s.

The Astros will have a pair of Mother’s Day-related promotional giveaway items this weekend when the Reds come to Daikin Park. The first 10,000 fans on Friday will receive an Altuve throwback white and pink jersey; all fans at Saturday’s game will receive an Altuve bubblegum bobblehead; and the first 10,000 fans through the gates on Sunday will receive an Astros throwback purse. 

For more details, click here.

• Double-A Corpus Christi right-hander Jose Fleury (Astros’ No. 17 prospect) was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for April after going 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in four starts. He allowed two earned runs on 11 hits and five walks over 22 innings while holding opponents to a .149 average. He began the month with a streak of 18 1/3 scoreless innings. Fleury, 23, was signed by Houston as an international free agent out of La Vega, Dominican Republic, on Dec. 6, 2021.
 
• Triple-A Sugar Land right-hander Miguel Ullola (No. 5) was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Ullola made his longest outing of the season Thursday by throwing five scoreless innings against Round Rock, allowing one hit with five strikeouts. Ullola became the second consecutive Space Cowboy to be named PCL Pitcher of the Week after LHP Brandon Walter took home the award two weeks ago.

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