José Altuve was in the building Monday night. He just wasn’t on the field.
The Houston Astros second baseman sat in the stands at loanDepot Park in Miami, watching Team Venezuela punch its ticket to the World Baseball Classic final with a win over Italy—the deepest run in the country’s history. Tonight, Venezuela faces the United States for the championship. Altuve will be there again, this time as a spectator.
That part isn’t by choice.
Altuve made it clear months ago he wanted to play. He signed the paperwork. He was willing. The insurance provider said no.
“I signed the paper that I’m willing to go and play like I did in the last two WBCs,” Altuve said in January. “It’s always an honor to represent my country.”
The issue is the same one that has reshaped this tournament. After a minor procedure on his right foot in November, Altuve was flagged under the WBC’s tightened insurance rules. The Astros were not willing to assume the financial risk of his $33 million salary, and that ended his chances of participating.
There’s some symmetry to it. In 2023, Altuve fractured his thumb during the WBC and missed the first seven weeks of Houston’s season. This year, teammate Jeremy Peña suffered a similar fate, fracturing a finger in tournament play—a reminder of the risk that now shapes these insurance decisions.
Venezuela has pushed forward without him. Led by Ronald Acuña Jr., Luis Arráez, and a roster loaded with major league talent, the Vinotinto rallied past Italy and now sit one win from their first World Baseball Classic title.
Altuve won’t be in the lineup tonight. He’ll be in the stands, locked into every pitch with the rest of his country.
And if Venezuela finishes the job, he won’t take the field—but he’ll share in it all the same.
How to Watch: USA vs. Venezuela (WBC Final)
- Date: Tonight, March 17, 2026
- First pitch: 7:00 p.m. CT
- Location: loanDepot Park (Miami, Florida)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX Sports app (TV provider login required)
Photo credit: Arturo Pardavila III / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
