Where Are They Now: Matt Albers
Albers was drafted out of San Jacinto Junior College in Texas in the June 2001 draft. After spending the 2002 season at Rookie League Martinsville, Albers joined the ValleyCats organization during the summer of 2003. As a ValleyCat, he led the New York-Penn League in strikeouts (94) and second in innings pitched (86.1) and boasted a dominant 2.92 ERA.
Albers was promoted to Class A Lexington in 2004 and was named a South Atlantic League All-Star after compiling a record of 8-3 and striking out 140 batters in 111.1 innings.
The right-handed continued to succeed in 2005 with A-Advanced Salem as he posted 146 strikeouts to finish fourth in the Carolina League. Albers began the 2006 season with Double A Corpus Christi and Triple A Round Rock before making his major league debut with the Astros on July 25 against the Cincinnati Reds. Albers came into the game in the ninth inning and recorded one out. Albers made his first major league start on August 3 and finished the seven weeks of the season in the Astros starting rotation.
Albers began the 2007 season with Triple A Round Rock, but was soon called up by the Astros on April 17 and earned his first major league victory on May 5 at St. Louis. Albers was optioned to Triple A in late May but was recalled four weeks later and remained on the roster for the rest of the season. In the winter of 2006, Albers was acquired by the Orioles in a deal that sent Miguel Tejada to the Astros.
Albers began the season with Baltimore in 2008 as a long reliever out of the bullpen. The right-hander compiled a record of 3-3 in 38 games with a 3.49 ERA. The Orioles shut down Albers in July for the remainder of the season due a shoulder injury.