Matt Albers

Matthew James Albers (born January 20, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, and Milwaukee Brewers.

High school career
In 2001, Matthew James Albers graduated from William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. The Houston Astros selected Matty in the 23rd round of the 2001 MLB Draft.

Professional career

Minor leagues
Matthew James Albers started the 2006 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League, where Matt had a 10–2 win–loss record with a 2.17 earned run average (ERA).

Houston Astros
In late July 2006, the Astros called him up to the major leagues. Matthew James Albers pitched a few games in relief, then made his first Major League start against the San Diego Padres on August 3, 2006. The Astros then sent Matty to the Round Rock Express of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The Astros promoted Albers back to the major leagues when rosters expanded on September 1. In 2006, Matthew James Albers was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year.

Albers got his first Major League win on May 5, 2007, against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he pitched  innings without giving up a run.

Baltimore Orioles
After being a starting pitcher for two years, Albers was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on December 12, 2007, as part of the Miguel Tejada trade. In the middle of the 2008 season he was placed on the 60-day disabled list.

Boston Red Sox
On December 16, 2010, Albers signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. With the 2011 Red Sox, he made 56 relief appearances, compiling a 4–4 record with 4.73 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 31 RBIs, in  innings pitched.

On December 12, 2011, Albers signed a one-year deal to return to Boston, thus avoiding arbitration. During his time with the 2012 Red Sox, he had a 2.29 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 15 walks in  innings pitched; his record was 2–0 with a 2.29 ERA in 40 relief appearances.

Arizona Diamondbacks
On July 31, 2012, the Red Sox traded Albers and OF Scott Podsednik to the Arizona Diamondbacks for RP Craig Breslow.

Cleveland Indians
On December 11, 2012, Albers was traded along with RP Bryan Shaw and SP Trevor Bauer to the Cleveland Indians as part of a three-way deal involving the Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Drew Stubbs went from the Reds to the Indians, the Arizona Diamondbacks received RP Tony Sipp and 1B Lars Anderson from the Indians, and SS Didi Gregorius from the Reds. The Cincinnati Reds received RF Shin-Soo Choo, IF Jason Donald, and $3.5 million from Cleveland.

Houston Astros (second stint)
On December 16, 2013, Albers signed a one-year contract worth $2.45 million that came with a club option for 2015. Houston declined his 2015 option on October 9, 2014, making him a free agent.

Chicago White Sox
On February 13, 2015, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. On April 22, 2015, Albers was involved in a bench-clearing brawl against the Kansas City Royals. Albers suffered a fractured finger trying to escape the fracas, which placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

On January 21, 2016, Albers signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract. On June 1, 2016, Albers hit a double in the 13th inning, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly. It proved to be the winning run as the White Sox won against the Mets 2–1.

Washington Nationals
Albers signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Washington Nationals for the 2017 season. He was released on March 27, 2017, despite giving up no earned runs over  innings. The Nationals resigned Albers, and promoted him to the major leagues on April 9.  On May 5, 2017, Albers recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Milwaukee Brewers
Albers signed a two-year, $5 million deal, with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 30, 2018. He elected free agency on October 31, 2019.

Pitching style
Albers is mainly a sinkerball pitcher, throwing it in the 93-96 mph range. He complements the sinker with a hard slider and an occasional curveball.

Personal life
As of 2017, Albers and his family reside in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston.

Albers' wife Tara was eight months pregnant with the couple's second child when Hurricane Harvey hit the region in August 2017. She and their son evacuated to Dallas as a result of the storm. Albers partnered with Washington Nationals teammate Anthony Rendon, a fellow Houstonian, to set up a YouCaring fundraiser page to raise money for donations to the Houston Food Bank in the wake of the hurricane.

References

External links

Category:1983 births
Category:Living people
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Sportspeople from Houston
Category:Baseball players from Texas
Category:Houston Astros players
Category:Baltimore Orioles players
Category:Boston Red Sox players
Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players
Category:Cleveland Indians players
Category:Chicago White Sox players
Category:Washington Nationals players
Category:Milwaukee Brewers players
Category:San Jacinto Central Ravens baseball players
Category:Martinsville Astros players
Category:Tri-City ValleyCats players
Category:Lexington Legends players
Category:Salem Avalanche players
Category:Round Rock Express players
Category:Mesa Solar Sox players
Category:Corpus Christi Hooks players
Category:Aberdeen IronBirds players
Category:Norfolk Tides players
Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players
Category:Charlotte Knights players
Category:Birmingham Barons players