The Training Room: Jose Altuve 2019 Outlook

2018 Knee Problems

Before a diagnosis was divulged, I watched Jose Altuve slide into second-base and come up a little gimpy in the playoffs warning bells were going in my head. He missed 3 weeks from late July to mid-August, and as I sorted through the possibilities of what could be wrong, I grew more and more pessimistic.

The fact that he was shut down for three weeks and still not healthy meant the problem was more than a simple muscle strain. If he had a meniscus problem, the Houston Astros would have addressed it mid-season, the recovery is quick and despite some pressure from the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners, was anyone genuinely concerned about the division?

2019 Outlook

Entering the 2019 draft season, one topic on many fantasy player’s minds is the viability of Jose Altuve’s knee and the risk associated with his recent surgery. I’m excited to inform you that I am very optimistic about Altuve and a bounce-back season in ’19.

An avulsion fracture means that the tip or end of a bone has broken off the main body of a bone. In most cases it is a tiny piece of bone and surgery doesn’t repair the piece; instead, the piece is removed. The healing and recovery after removal is much faster, less complicated, and more likely to succeed.

This small of a bone caused Altuve significant pain every time he swung the bat, attempted to sprint, or moved laterally on defense.  Removing this bone is similar to taking a thorn out of a tiger’s paw. The complete recovery process should only take a few months, leaving Altuve ready long before Spring training.

He’s only 28-years-old and stealing 18-24 bases should be a realistic expectation in 2019, making him realistic 20-20 threat with elite batting average. While he is not in the discussion to be drafted in the top five, his NFBC average draft position as of this writing is 16 and likely to rise as the season approaches. I see him paying dividends at virtually any spot.