Jose Altuve chiquito pero picoso means “he may be small, but he is spicy.” Amen!
One lucky day for Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros flew to Maracay, Venezuela, seeking new talent and new players. When they saw Altuve, they thought he was too young and turned him away. The next day, the 16-year-old returned with his birth certificate. The Astros recruiter asked, “Can you play?” Altuve replied, “I’ll show you!” Altuve did such a great job that he was hired as an undrafted free agent for $15,000.
Altuve & Stanton, Hank Aaron Award, 2017 (photo, Rolling Stone)
Altuve has grown to be one of the Houston Astros’ best players. His perseverance and dedication to baseball have paid off. In 2014, he stole 56 bases. Altuve has scored more than 100 runs not just once but four times. Altuve has won the Silver Slugger award not once but six times–2014-2018 and 2022. What a record!
Altuve has been a world Champion not once but twice, in 2017 and 2022. His outstanding performance led him to win the Sporting News MBL Player of the Year honor twice.
Altuve is only five feet and six inches tall, but he did not allow this to stop his baseball goals, his teammate Martin Maldonado said. “The face of the franchise. I walked in today, and I said I couldn’t believe that little guy is one of the best hitters in the game.”
He is getting better every year, too.
I can comprehend why height matters in basketball. I played basketball as a teenager at church in Bellaire, Texas, and the taller girls had an advantage. However, I don’t see how height would matter in baseball. It didn’t to Altuve either.
Jose Altuve: I never doubted myself because I already had too many people doubting me. I wanted to prove those people wrong, not because one day I could tell them they were wrong. I wanted to prove them wrong for the guys behind me who are short, too: guys who are not strong, not tall, and guys who are 14 to 16 right now, who are small and want an opportunity.
On the same token, this happens in acting. Some think that being tall and beautiful is what it takes to be a good actor. Acting is a gift of the soul. Beauty and height have nothing to do with it. Jose Altuve chiquito pero picoso means “he may be small, but he is spicy.” Amen!
