The Houston Astros’ 2020 season looks like it is going to be filled with controversy after the revelation of sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball during the offseason.
In Houston’s first away game of Spring Training, they got a taste of what is sure to await them throughout the season as the shockwaves from the scandal reverberate throughout the game, frustrating and angering teams and fans alike.
Jose Altuve, one of the stars of the team and a vocal defender of his teammates and the franchise in the wake of the scandal, was booed loudly in Houston’s visit to Joker Marchant Stadium to take on the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon.
Fans cheered loudly when Altuve struck out in his first at-bat, showing how the diminutive second baseman and former MVP has quickly gone from one of the game’s most beloved and respected players to a villain.
The Venezuela native doubled in his second plate appearance, but things got quite interesting the third time he stepped to the plate.
Tigers reliever Nick Ramirez grazed Altuve with a pitch, hitting him on the foot. Many have theorized that teams could exact their revenge on the Astros by hitting them with pitches.
Nothing more came of the incident on Tuesday, but it seems inevitable that this scene will repeat itself throughout the 2020 season every time the Astros show up to the park.
