Altuve (leg), Correa won't play in ASG
Brian McTaggart
@brianmctaggartHOUSTON ¨C Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve both announced on Thursday morning that they have decided not to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday and will instead remain in Houston. Correa wants to spend the break with his pregnant wife, and Altuve is dealing with a left leg injury.
That leaves outfielder Michael Brantley and closer Ryan Pressly as the only Astros who will represent Houston for the American League in the Midsummer Classic, though both Correa and Altuve stumped for first baseman Yuli Gurriel to be a replacement. Altuve was selected to the All-Star Game for a club-record-tying seventh time, and Correa was set to make his second appearance.
Correa¡¯s wife, Daniella, is pregnant with the couple¡¯s first child, who is due in November.
¡°We have an appointment during that week and I want to stay home,¡± Correa said. ¡°As you guys know, baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first. We decided I¡¯m going to stay here with her and spend this time. We don¡¯t get a lot of time together with the baseball season, but I¡¯m especially excited about that.
¡°I¡¯m grateful for everybody that voted for me to be in the All-Star Game. Baseball means the world to me, but I want to spend time with my wife. It¡¯s our first child, and we need that time.¡±
Altuve, meanwhile, is dealing with an injury to his left leg, but he didn¡¯t give any specifics.
¡°I really think I need those four days to get everything right on my leg and be healthy for the second half, because I feel like the team needs me 100 percent,¡± Altuve said.
Altuve (32 percent) finished second to Toronto¡¯s Marcus Semien (54 percent) in Phase 2 of the All-Star Game voting, and Correa (21 percent) finished third, behind Boston¡¯s Xander Bogaerts (42 percent) and Toronto¡¯s Bo Bichette (37 percent).
Correa, in the final year of his contract, entered Thursday hitting .291 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs.
¡°It was a tough decision,¡± Correa said. ¡°People voted for me to be in it. People wanted to see me play in it. We¡¯ve been trying for a long time to have a first child, and now that it's finally here, I want to spend those days with her and get the whole experience, go to the doctor¡¯s appointments to see the baby in the sonogram and everything. I really want to enjoy that part.¡±
Altuve, who entered Thursday hitting .286 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs, is focused on being healthy for the second half of the season.
¡°I want to thank the fans, because I got a lot of votes to the All-Star Game,¡± Altuve said. ¡°I want to thank the players and coaches that voted for me in the All-Star Game. This is an honor to me, and I¡¯m really thankful. But I¡¯m putting my team first, and I really think I¡¯m making the best decision.¡±