“You Called It!” After Homer, Altuve Rewards Young Fan with His Bat…
Astros star second baseman José Altuve is renowned not only for his exceptional skills but also for his kindness and generosity. During the Astros’ 7-5 defeat to the Orioles on Friday night, Altuve created a memorable experience for an 11-year-old fan who looks up to him.
Chris DiSalvo Jr., a young admirer from Plainview, N.Y., was in town for a baseball tournament and secured a front-row seat above the visitors’ dugout at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. When Altuve came up to bat, DiSalvo shouted, “If you hit a home run, can I have your bat?”
To DiSalvo’s delight, Altuve hit a home run on the very next pitch, sending the ball over the right-center-field fence. After returning to the dugout, Altuve made his way back to DiSalvo and handed him the bat.
Altuve, who has been struggling with his hitting, was thrilled to connect on the homer and was eager to reward the young fan’s faith. “At the end of the day, we play the game for the fans, and we really appreciate all the support,” Altuve said. “He wasn’t necessarily an Astros fan, but he was rooting for me, and it felt really good that he called the homer.”
The home run helped spark a four-run third inning for the Astros, but they ultimately lost their nine-game road winning streak when Anthony Santander hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, leading the Orioles to a comeback victory. Despite the loss, Altuve’s act of kindness was the highlight of the night.
Astros manager Joe Espada praised Altuve’s gesture, saying, “It’s what this is all about. It’s about a good human doing nice stuff for people. The humility he shows is incredible. And the kid called that homer, got the bat — that’s what makes it special.”
DiSalvo, who plays right field for his youth team in the Ripken Experience tournament, admires Altuve’s talent and stature, finding inspiration in the fact that both are not particularly tall. “He’s my idol,” DiSalvo said. “My dream is to play in MLB like him. He’s really nice, and I respect him for that.”
The DiSalvo family, who are Mets fans, now count Altuve among their favorites. “What he did was fantastic,” said Chris DiSalvo Sr. “It’s great for baseball and shows he’s a true sportsman. It made a special day for Chris.”
As for the bat, Chris Jr. plans to keep it safe in his room, saying, “I’m going to put it in my room and not let anyone touch it.”
Altuve, a 2022 Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his character and community involvement, remains committed to inspiring young players. “It feels great when kids want to play like you,” he said. “We play to inspire and help kids achieve their dreams.”l…
