Astros Jose Altuve named AL Championship Series MVP

Jose Altuve is the heart and soul of this Astros team, and deservedly so, is honored with the Most Valuable Player Award of the ALCS.

Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve may be small in stature, but he is big in heart and determination. He would be the last to admit it, but he is the embodiment of this team. The team’s camaraderie, grit, and inspiration centers around Jose Altuve and that’s why he’s the player hoisted up by his teammates. That’s what earns him the series MVP. Oh, and he plays baseball pretty well too.

"“The playoff version of him is spectacular. He’s turned himself into a star in his career here, and yet he’s remained humble, he’s remained hungry.”, AJ Hinch said. “Everything that’s right about the Astros is Jose Altuve.’’ via Bob Nightengale of USA Today"

As the bats of this team struggled, not only in the ALCS but throughout the entire postseason, Altuve carried this team’s offense on his back. So what a fitting way to end this series, with Jose Altuve sending the Astros to the World Series with a walk-off home run.

That game-ending home run was just one of five that he has hit this postseason and 13 career postseason homers. Altuve now holds the franchise record of reaching base in 20 straight postseason games. His slash line in the ALCS was .348/.444/.652 with an OPS of 1.1097. His numbers for both postseason series combined are very similar at .349/.417/.767 and a 1.184 OPS.

He led the team with 15 hits and 5 HRs, and his 10 runs and 8 RBIs were tied for the team lead. There is no doubt that he was the rock of this team and extremely instrumental in launching the Astros into the World Series.

But being the humble man that he is, he will never take the credit. He simply thanks the fans and the crowd and says they are the reason the Astros are where they are and calls his teammates the MVPs, not himself.