Jose Altuve has almost singlehandedly turned the fortunes of the Houston Astros around. In less than a decade, the team has gone from a laughing stock to a contender year after year.Growing up in Venezuela, Altuve was always told that he was too short to play. He finally got a breakthrough when the Astros decided to sign him to a $15,000 contract in 2007. Since then, the 5-foot-6 second baseman has made eight All-Star appearances, won an MVP Award, and led his team to a pair of World Series.It was for this reason that Astros fans were horrified when Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch during Venezuela's quarterfinal game against the USA at the World Baseball Classic in March. After undergoing thumb surgery, it was announced that the superstar would be back in the lineup on May 19.Houston Astros@astrosTonight, Jose Altuve returns.46021283Tonight, Jose Altuve returns. https://t.co/H95PEmcyD5"Tonight, Jose Altuve returns." - Houston AstrosPoised to make his return against the Oakland Athletics this weekend, fans cannot wait. Already, several have taken to Twitter to voice their overbearing excitement at the idea of having their second baseman back.APOLLO MEDIA@ApolloHOU@astros OH MY GOD DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY921@astros OH MY GOD DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY https://t.co/ygj8FSh0efBen Verlander@BenVerlander@astros He’s backkkkkkk 1164@astros He’s backkkkkkk 🙌P 4 D🔥@picks4dayzzz@astros About to be scary for the rest of the league..6@astros About to be scary for the rest of the league..Jose Altuve was recommissioned into the lineup after a brief rehab assignment that saw his time split between Triple-A and Double-A Houston Astros affiliates.Jose Altuve Comeback SZN@strosstrosstros@astros LETS FUCKING GOOO THE KING IS BACK 3@astros LETS FUCKING GOOO THE KING IS BACK 🐐Maanav Gupta@MGSportsTalk@astros The is back. The heart and soul is back. Tuve is back.18@astros The 🐐🐐🐐is back. The heart and soul is back. Tuve is back.Chris Ketchem@ChrisKetchem3@astros finally preseason is over. Let's see what the World Champs can do. Still need LMC. But 90% should be enough to get the job done.9@astros finally preseason is over. Let's see what the World Champs can do. Still need LMC. But 90% should be enough to get the job done. https://t.co/qEtxWkHKQH🏆 🇲🇽 Cinco De Cocko 🇲🇽 🏆@astros_dude@astros Today is the Astros REAL Opening Day 🏽101@astros Today is the Astros REAL Opening Day 🙌🏽Currently, the Astros are two games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Although fans undoubtedly expected their team to be in a better position by this time, there is hope that Altuve's bat will awaken the team's offense.Gavin𒉭🏙️@gsauce99@astros @Ken_Rosenthal yankees are shaking@astros @Ken_Rosenthal yankees are shaking2X Champ Steve From Houston@EsteBangBang@astros He is risen191@astros He is risen https://t.co/gDhBO2nizQAfter hitting .300/.387/.533 with 28 home runs and 57 RBIs in 2022, Altuve won a Silver Slugger and finished in the top five in MVP voting. Some fans also hope that Altuve's reinstatement into the lineup will help new first baseman Jose Abreu come to life. Abreu, who won the 2020 AL MVP as a member of the Chicago White Sox, is hitting just .220 without a home run this season.Excitement around Jose Altuve's return shows how much of a game-changer he isWhile Altuve may not be popular with everyone, especially not New York Yankees fans, there can be no doubt that he may be the most beloved man in Houston. With his team playing beneath its potential, there has never been a better time for Jose Altuve to showcase what he can do, and why he is held in such high esteem by fans and observers alike.