HOUSTON — Minute Maid Park fell silent after Houston Astros legend José Altuve tearfully shared that his grandmother was seriously ill, and doctors had warned the family to “prepare for the worst.” The news, announced shortly after a preseason workout by Altuve, brought tears to the eyes of fans and teammates.
In a trembling voice, Altuve spoke about the woman who had believed in him since childhood — when the world doubted what the 5-foot-10 Venezuelan boy could do in professional baseball.
“When I was 10, they said I was too young to play. But my grandmother just smiled and said, ‘Just hit it, Jose. One day the world will know your name.’”
That quote, Altuve says, has been a guiding principle throughout his career — from the days when he was cut from the draft to the moment he won MVP and lifted the World Series with the Astros.
Now, with his grandmother in the hospital in Venezuela, Altuve admits he’s “not afraid of losing the title, just afraid of not being able to say thank you.”
According to an Astros insider, Altuve has asked the team to fly back to Venezuela “as soon as possible” to be with her. But he also insists: if the situation allows, he wants to play one more special game — “so she can see her grandson hit his last shot.”
“If that day comes,” Altuve said, “I’ll look up at the bleachers where she sat when I was 6, and I’ll hit that home run for her.”
Immediately after that, the crowd in the stands began to stand and applaud. Teammates, many with tears in their eyes, stepped forward to hug him. A few quietly took off their hats and bowed their heads. The entire stadium fell silent—not for the game, but for humanity.
Altuve said his grandmother taught him to hold his first bat, to not give up when he missed a pitch, and to teach him that “a good heart is more important than a home run.”
Those memories came flooding back as he said, “I could play a hundred more games, hit a thousand more hits… but none of them would be as precious as hearing my grandmother say my name again.”
Astros fans sent their prayers with the hashtag #PrayForAbuela (Pray for Grandma) spreading across social media in just a few hours, creating a rare wave of love in the sports world.
Manager Joe Espada said the team is ready to create conditions for Altuve to visit her at any time. He emotionally shared:
“Jose is the heart of the team. If she is his source of strength, now is the time to return that love.”
Many other stars in the MLB world, from Mike Trout to Freddie Freeman, also sent words of encouragement. Freeman wrote on X (Twitter): “Every swing of Altuve carries the story of a grandmother believing in her grandson. Praying for a miracle to happen to her.”
José Altuve’s story today goes beyond the limits of sports. In a world of money and fame, the image of a player quietly shedding tears for his grandmother is a reminder that every legend begins with the simple love of family.
When asked what he wishes for most right now, Altuve just smiled, looked up at the red Houston sky and whispered:
“I just hope she can hear this applause one more time… for us.”
And perhaps, no matter what game is coming, Altuve will not only play for Houston — but for his own heart, where his grandmother is always waiting.
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