Astros' Jose Altuve hits homer for boy battling cancer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A young boy battling cancer made a request of Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Altuve delivered.

Before Thursday's game against Seattle, Altuve met with Dillon. During that meeting, Dillon asked Altuve if he could he could break his bat in his first plate appearance so he could have it, according to ESPN. Altuve did one better and sent someone to the clubhouse to get a new bat for Dillon.

Then Dillon told Altuve that he'd hit a homer.

"I hit a homer yesterday," Altuve said he told Dillon. "Don't expect me to hit a homer again today."

"You're going to do it," Dillon told him.

And Altuve did just that. In his first at-bat, he drilled a pitch out of the park.

"As soon as I hit the home run and got to second base, I remembered what he said," Altuve told ESPN. "I really like the kid. He was really happy to be here. I hope God blesses him for what he's been going through."

Altuve ended up going 4 for 4 in the 6-3 loss to Seattle. The home run he hit was his ninth of the season, which tied him for the American League lead.

We're following this story on Eyewitness News this afternoon. Watch for updates on air, online and on our mobile news app.