Jose Altuve just can't catch a break.
Recently returned from the injured list, the Astros' star second baseman made an early exit from Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners after fouling a ball off of perhaps the worst possible place -- his groin.
The painful episode unfolded with Altuve in the batter's box against Seattle right-hander Wyatt Mills in the home half of the fourth inning. Altuve took a big rip at a ball bearing in on him, fouling it straight toward the family jewels.
The 12-year veteran immediately crumpled over in pain. Amazingly, he initially managed to stay in the game, finishing off the at-bat with a leadoff single and later coming around to score on an Alex Bregman RBI sacrifice fly.
However, Altuve was lifted in favor of utility man Nico Goodrum before the next half-inning, the top of the fifth. The Astros termed the ailment as "groin soreness."
Hopefully, it was just a minor setback for Altuve, who was activated from the IL on Monday after missing 12 games due to a strained hamstring.
The Astros won the game, 7-2, sealing a three-game sweep of the division-rival Mariners.
Of course, fans and journalists on social media had to have their say on Altuve's misfortune:
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