HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Even in his eighth year of MLB service, Houston Astros All-Star Jose Altuve is still encountering some career firsts.
During his sixth All-Star Game, Altuve successfully collected his first hit after entering the Midsummer Classic with a goose egg all-time in that category.
Before Altuve returned to the team Tuesday, the Astros sent him to a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Fresno to work out a sore knee that put him on the 10-day disabled list.
Altuve had never played in Triple-A. When he was called up back in 2011, he was promoted from Double-A ball.
On Sunday, Altuve made his first Triple-A hit in Fresno's game vs. Tacoma. As a token for the career first, he kept the ball.
In a pic tweeted by MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, the ball is inscribed with "Jose Altuve First Triple A Hit August 19, 2018 Fresno Grizzlies at Tacoma Rainiers".
Altuve reunited with his teammates in Seattle in the midst of the Astros' series with the Mariners.
Jose Altuve keeps ball from his first career Triple-A hit during rehab assignment away from Astros
