Jose Altuve has a tattoo on his collarbone, setting off another round of Astros conspiracy theories

We’re at the point in the Houston Astros cheating scandal where everyone is looking for little things that indicate the sign-stealing didn’t include a buzzer taped to players.

That’s specific to Jose Altuve, the second baseman who told his teammates not to rip off his jersey after his 2019 ALCS-clinching home run off Aroldis Chapman. It was an allegation that infuriated MLB players further, and Altuve and his teammates denied that anyone wore a buzzer to help batters know what pitch was coming. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he wasn’t 100 percent sure that allegation wasn’t true.

But why did Altuve tell his teammates not to rip his jersey off? His agent, Scott Boras, said it was his “shyness” that was the culprit, something Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez mocked recently. The other day, Altuve’s teammate Carlos Correa said that the second baseman had “an unfinished tattoo on his collarbone, that honestly looked terrible” and that’s why he didn’t want his jersey ripped.

Which all brings us to Monday’s revelation in the clubhouse:

Jose Altuve walks into clubhouse shirtless, exposing a tattoo

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 17, 2020

Jose Altuve just walked by a group of reporters, took his shirt off, turned around bare-chested, grabbed another shirt and put it on.

Yes, there was a tattoo on his left collarbone. I’m not sure if it was bad or not.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2020

Jose Altuve will speak to reporters after today’s workout. He just entered the Astros clubhouse shirtless, exposing a tattoo on his left shoulder that said “Melanie.”

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 17, 2020

Jose Altuve just walked into the Astros clubhouse, changed his shirt in front of his locker — where a throng of reporters and cameramen were waiting — grabbed a bat and left to go to the batting cage.

He indeed has a tattoo.

— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) February 17, 2020

Here we go again. Here’s a smattering of reaction to this news:

Altuve seen with a collarbone tattoo in the clubhouse. pic.twitter.com/u1FiXkWBN1

— 1️⃣0️⃣3️⃣Wins💯 (@NYYUpstateCar) February 17, 2020

Altuve has to rush to get a tattoo after Correa’s comments

— Jonathan (@Jon_94_) February 17, 2020

we now have to track down the tattoo artist and check Altuve’s payment records to establish timeline https://t.co/xoZ6YipQTG

— DC Defenders 2-0 (@DanielTWare) February 17, 2020

Apparently Altuve got a tattoo this weekend

— weavs33 (@weavs33) February 17, 2020

still doesn't change the fact that the astros expect us to believe altuve was concerned about a tattoo being seen in the middle of a celebration after the biggest HR of his life https://t.co/TJ3PafKQ1T

— cody (@bravescody) February 17, 2020

July 29, 2019 👇

Jose Altuve (pictured without tattoo) hit the walk-off HR vs Aroldis Chapman 82 days later. pic.twitter.com/lKKhprdU3S

— Paul Hembekides (@PaulHembo) February 17, 2020