WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥 Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has a broken right thumb and needs surgery after getting hurt in Venezuela鈥檚 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States at the World Baseball Classic.
The Astros said Sunday they will announce a prognosis for the second baseman after the operation.
The ight-time All-Star and the 2017 American League MVP fell after he was struck by a 95.9 mph sinker from Colorado reliever Daniel Bard . Altuve grimaced as he walked off with an athletic trainer.
Altuve鈥檚 injury occurred three days after during the postgame celebration of Puerto Rico鈥檚 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic. D铆az tore the patellar tendon in his right knee and had surgery on Thursday.
鈥淚t appears it could be a while,鈥 in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Altuve returned for a medical examination.
Utilityman Mauricio Dubon, who batted .208 games last season, is expected to move into the Astros' lineup to replace Altuve.
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