Jose Altuve Can Make Home Run History for MLB's Shortest Sluggers
The Houston Astros are one of the most polarizing teams in Major League Baseball this season, and at the center of the franchise is second baseman Jose Altuve, a player who has been a huge focal point for the team over the last decade. With nine games left in the 2025 MLB regular season, the Astros' team leaders are coming to fruition, and Altuve's impressive performance has made him a strong contender to make some incredible history.
According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, if Altuve continues to lead the Astros in home runs, he would become part of an exclusive club of players who stand at just 5-foot-6 or shorter. These include two other notable players, Heinie Mueller and Hack Wilson, who both led their teams in home runs during the live-ball era.
"He can become the shortest man to lead any team in home runs since the 1930s!" Stark writes. "He'd be tied for the live-ball era record with two other 5-foot-6 guys: Heinie Mueller (1939 Phillies) and Hack Wilson (led the Cubs and Dodgers seven times)." It's a fascinating piece of MLB history that Altuve can tie, but it's still exciting to root for as the season comes to a close.
Altuve currently leads the Astros with 26 home runs, ahead of Christian Walker, who is second with 23. After him, Yanier Diaz and Isaac Paredes (who was recently activated off the injured list) trail behind with 19 home runs each. Despite the lengthy absence of Yordan Alvarez, who has struggled to regain his form after a serious injury earlier in the season, Altuve has managed to build a significant lead on the team's home run leaderboards.
It's worth noting that this is Altuve's best home run season since 2022, when he finished with 28 home runs. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a decent power hitter, with 255 home runs in over 1,300 games played. With nine games to go, only Walker still has a chance to surpass Altuve on the leaderboards.
The Astros have a crucial matchup against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, and a home run from either Altuve or Walker would be a welcome sight for fans. If nothing changes and the standings stay as they are, then Altuve will tie some incredible MLB history, becoming part of an exclusive club of players who stand at just 5-foot-6 or shorter to lead their teams in home runs.
"The 2025 season is one for the books," writes Matt Sullivan, a freelance writer for The Sporting News. "Jose Altuve's impressive performance has made him a strong contender to make some incredible history, and we can't wait to see how it all unfolds."