Jose Altuve is about to become perhaps the shortest cleanup hitter in the history of major league baseball. Bo Porter announced that the 5-foot-5 second baseman will bat fourth for the Astros this season against right-handed pitching.
The team lacks power hitters with enough plate discipline to warrant holding down that spot in the lineup. Altuve hit just 12 home runs over the past two seasons combined, but his .286 battting average during that span makes him a credible candidate on the weak-hitting Astros.