Jose Altuve:
American League MVP this year. AL Batting Champion 3 of the past 4 years. Best player on my new World Series Champion Houston Astros. Little guy, humble as can be, big bat, big heart. He’s an excellent choice to stand next to Watt.
Really, the whole Astros team could have been chosen, because they were fun, charismatic, inspiring, deeply invested in helping Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey, and total class acts when it seemed like professional sports was about as classless as it has ever been.
Also, I know Sports Illustrated isn’t the dominant thing it used to be, but it’s actually really good. It seems quite a bit more mature and on the level contrasted with just about every other sports rag that’s as liberal as can be and can’t help showing it.
He has also been a gold glove-winning second baseman. Add to that the fact that Altuve is only 5'6" in a sport dominated by physically bigger men. If the game is on the line, I'd rather have Altuve up to bat than anyone.