Albers looking for another shot
SASKATOON — Andrew Albers’s release point may have temporarily changed since he was last on the mound with the Minnesota Twins.
That doesn’t mean his focus has, though.
Albers, who began his Major League Baseball pitching career last August by tossing 17 1/3 consecutive shutout innings, has spent the offseason as a substitute teacher and part-time basketball coach.
He only started throwing a baseball again during the last week of December.
Instead, it’s the shots Albers takes from the foul line at the gym of his alma mater — John Paul II Collegiate in North Battleford — that keeps him focused on his summertime job.
“It comes down to mentalities,” said the 28-year-old lefty, who was honoured for his rookie MLB season at Saturday’s Brandon Wheat Kings-Saskatoon Blades WHL game.
“Whether it’s a free throw or whether you’re on the mound trying to throw strike one or strike two, a lot of that overlaps that way. It’s just a matter of your mindset going into the game and getting yourself ready for big games.”
Albers played guard for the North Battleford high school before his baseball career took him to the University of Kentucky.
The sports seemingly couldn’t be any more dissimilar. However, Albers believes there are lessons to be learned from his time on the court and hopes others follow suit.
“We don’t have kids playing quite as many sports anymore. I really think that’s damaging the overall athlete,” he said. “Every different sport can teach you something else.
“A lot of time you can use those past experiences in whatever you’re doing. I think diversity’s a great thing.”
For now, Albers is weaning off the court and slowly starting to stretch out his arm. He reports to Twins spring training on Feb. 13 in Fort Myers, Fla.
Despite his incredible start when he was called up from the minors last August — according to NBC Sports Hardball Talk, only six pitchers began their major-league careers with that long of a scoreless streak — Albers fizzled down the stretch.
He finished the campaign with a 2-5 record and 4.05 earned-run average in 60 innings.
This off-season, the Twins signed pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, while re-signing Mike Pelfrey. Suddenly, Albers’s spot in the starting rotation is in jeopardy.
“It’s one of those things where you had a good feeling it was going to happen. They needed to address the starting rotation and they did,” he said.
“There’s one spot open and there’s going to be a big competition for that spot. It’s one of those things that you can’t really worry about. It doesn’t change the way you prepare and go about your business. It’s all about getting yourself in the best shape that you can and going down ready to compete.”