"Wherever the f*** he got hit by and you cheer, you’re a f****** a******" - Sean Pendergast blasts Twins fans after Jose Altuve gets struck by pitch
Houston-based radio broadcaster Sean Pendergast delivered an expletive-laden message toward the Minnesota Twins fans who booed Jose Altuve after he was hit by a pitch. Pendergast said if they wanted to act this way, they should have had the guts to remain in the venue until the end, even when their team was losing.
Pendergast is the co-host of Payne & Pendergast, a morning show on SportsRadio 610. He was in the stands for the opening clash of the three-game series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday.
The Astros were leading 7-5 in the eighth inning when second baseman Altuve was hit on the hands by a pitch from Twins reliever Josh Winder. The home crowd cheered in approval and Altuve eventually had to leave the game.
Following a nervy finish, Houston won 13-12 and Pendergast released his anger in a video on X/Twitter.
“When José Altuve gets beaned by a pitch — I don’t care if you boo José Altuve when he comes to the plate. I actually encourage you to do that because he hits better when you do. When he gets hit on the wrist or the face, or wherever the f**k he got hit by, and you cheer, you’re a f****g a*****e," Pendergast fumed.
“…If you’re gonna cheer when Altuve gets hit, just stay for the rest of the game. That’s all I ask. Stay for the rest of the game, regardless of what the score is. Stay for the rest of the game. If you leave, you’re a chump. You’re a f*cking chump. And this whole set of fans right here, empty seats that once held thousands of chumps. Thanks for having us, Minnesota.”
Altuve was able to return on Sunday for the final game of the series. That day, former Astros and current Twins shortstop Carlos Correa was struck in the first inning by a pitch from Spencer Arrigheti, which forced him out of the game. Nevertheless, the Twins brushed off the setback to win 3-2 and take the series.
Jose Altuve still draws animosity outside Houston for the Astros sign stealing scandal
Altuve is often booed on the road for being part of the Astros' 2017 World Series-winning roster that was implicated in a sign-stealing scandal. As their current franchise player, he still draws animosity from the fans even though his involvement in the controversy has been debated.
Coincidentally, Correa was also part of that infamous Astros team before moving to the Twins before the 2022 season began. He eventually signed a six-year, $200 million contract with Minnesota in January 2023.