Michael Wyke/Associated Press
Height: 5’6″
Peak WAR: 7.9
Perhaps the best way to sum up Jose Altuve’s greatness is to note that when he won the American League MVP in 2017, the runner-up was more than a foot taller and roughly 100 pounds heavier.
Granted, Altuve hasn’t always been great. He was merely good in his first three seasons with the Houston Astros, in which he didn’t offer much beyond his ability to hit for average and steal bases.
Since 2014, however, Altuve’s 33.5 WAR ranks fourth in the majors. He’s won three batting titles and compiled an overall average of .327 in this span, plus an .877 OPS, 114 home runs and 179 stolen bases.
Though there’s obviously a catch regarding the 2017 playoffs, Altuve has also been clutch in the postseason. His last three Octobers have seen him post a .947 OPS and 13 homers, one of which was a pennant-clincher.
All of this would make for a pretty good career in the big leagues. But since he only just turned 30 in May, Altuve still has many years to go before he reaches the end of his own.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
