(SportsRadio 610) - Houston Astros and Team Venezuela star second baseman Jose Altuve is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks with a broken right thumb suffered during the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
The Astros said in a statement Altuve will have surgery on his right thumb "in the upcoming days," after which the team will provide an update on his prognosis.
Altuve was forced to leave the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Team USA after getting hit in the hand by a pitch from Daniel Bard.
A 96 mph sinker from Bard sailed up and in on Altuve during the fifth inning, with his team trailing team USA 5-2.
The initial concern of a broken right thumb was confirmed Sunday by Audacy MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
Venezuela rallied in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-5 lead. They tacked on another in the seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead.
However, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner’s grand slam in the top half of the eighth put USA ahead for good as they advanced to the semifinals with a 9-7 victory.
With Venezuela knocked out of the tournament and Altuve reeling after the hand injury, he becomes the latest MLB star to go down with an injury in the WBC.
New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz suffered a season ending leg injury this past Wednesday during a celebration following Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic.
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