Andrew Albers was a key reason Canada qualified for the 2013 World Baseball Classic and he will have the opportunity to continue to impact Team Canada in March.
In September, Albers was the starting and winning pitcher for Team Canada when they beat Germany in World Baseball Qualifier Final. He pitched six innings and posted a 1.50 earned-run average.
Albers will look to continue those impressive numbers as he was added to the roster last week as a relief pitcher.
Albers played with New Britain, the Minnesota Twins AA affiliate, last season. He was 4-3 on the year with a 3.75 ERA, 98.1 innings pitched, had 12 walks and 73 strikeouts.
The local left-hander was named an all star last season for the AA league. Albers played his second year of professional baseball last year. He was a member of the 2011 Pan Am Games team that won gold and the bronze medal winning 2011 World Cup team.
Albers was named the Senior Male Athlete of the Year for 2011 by Baseball Canada.
Albers is one of three pitchers in the bullpen who did not play in Major League Baseball last season. The other minor leaguers are Dustin Molleken (Colorado Springs AAA) of Regina and Trystan Magnuson (New Hampshire AA) of Vancouver.
The big-leaguers in the bullpen include Phillippe Aumont of the Philadelphia Phillies, Jesse Crain of the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford and his teammate Jim Henderson, who pitched in six major league baseball games during 2012.
The starting pitchers for Team Canada include Shawn Hill, Scott Richmond, Chris Leroux, Scott Mathieson, Jameson Taillon and Mark Hardy.
Team Canada will carry 28 players, and have 27 spots filled, as one is saved for Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) if he passes his physical. The other position players include Russell Martin (Pittsburgh Pirates), Peter Orr (Philadelphia Phillies), Brett Lawrie (Toronto Blue Jays), Michael Saunders (Seattle Mariners), Justin Morneau (Minnesota Twins), Taylor Green (Milwaukee Brewers), Adam Loewen (Buffalo AAA), Cale Iorg (Toledo AAA), Chris Robinson (Norfolk AAA), Tyson Gillies (Reading AA), Jimmy Van Ostrand (Harrisburg AA), Tim Smith (Mississippi AA), Rene Tosoni (New Britain AA) and Jonathan Malo (Quebec Independent).
There are 17 Canadian players under contract with MLB teams and another 130 players in the minor leagues. So for these players it is a huge accomplishment to be named among the best 28 baseball players in Canada.
Canada will open the World Baseball Classic March 8 against Italy in Phoenix, Ariz. Canada faces Mexico March 9 and the United State March 10.
