Houston Astros star Jose Altuve went yard against the Baltimore Orioles, but he truly hit it out of the park with his celebration that involved a young fan.
Altuve blasted a two-run homer to right field during the top of the third inning to give the Astros a 2-1 lead over the Orioles on Friday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. After rounding the bases, Altuve retrieved his bat and handed it to a young fan. ‘That was literally what Jose was most concerned about walking back through the dugout was to tell (Astros manager) Joe Espada that there’s a young kid that needs to get my bat,’ an MLB Network broadcaster said.
The young fan is named Chris and receiving the bat marked the ‘greatest moment of my life,’ he said. How did this moment come to be? Chris explained that he got the attention of Altuve, his ‘idol,’ as Altuve was preparing for his upcoming at-bat.
‘When (Altuve) was on deck, I was yelling, ‘If you get a home run, can I have your bat?’ The second pitch he hit a home run … and right after he called me into the dugout and gave me the bat. He’s my idol and it was my favorite thing of my life.’
Watch his priceless reaction here:
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Although Chris was wearing an Orioles hat when he first retrieved Altuve’s bat, the young fan clarified that ‘Jose Altuve has always been my idol’ and that he was wearing Baltimore gear amid his recreational league tournament.
“I’m shaking right now,’ Chris added.