New Headline: "Houston's Jose Altuve Embarks on Venezuelan Dream in 2019 World Series
Here's the skinny on Jose Altuve's absence from the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Why Jose Altuve isn't playing for Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Venezuela's run to its first-ever World Baseball Classic title game hasn't been without its hardship.
The Venezuelans suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Latin American powerhouse the Dominican Republic in their final pool game. They fell down by as many as three runs in their quarterfinals win over Japan. In the semifinals, they were similarly pegged back, falling behind by two runs before erupting for four in the game's waning moments.
Despite the troubles, Venezuela continues to chug along, using a gutsy bullpen and impressive offense to reach the biggest stage of them all; a WBC final clash with the United States. When Venezuela takes the field on Tuesday night, it will do so without one of its most consequential players -- Astros 2B Jose Altuve. Altuve, a fixture in the past two WBCs, opted to sit out this time around.
His absence is something of a surprise given his adoration for his country and its baseball history. So, just why is Altuve riding the pine in this year's World Baseball Classic? Here's what you need to know.
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