Andrew Albers knew this season playing at the AAA level in the Minnesota Twins' organization was a possibility, but he expected to start where he finished last season.
Albers was 4-3 last season at the AA level with the New Britain Rock Cats and made 19 appearances with 98.1 innings pitched. He had a 3.75 earned-run average with 73 strikeouts. Those numbers and the impressive spring training season have helped Albers jump up to the next level already. It was announced last week that he would play on the Rochester Red Wings AAA team this season.
Albers got more baseball exposure when he was named to the Canadian national team for the World Baseball Classic last month. He he pitched against Mexico in Canada's only win of their three-game round robin schedule.
After the WBC Albers explained how he thought the start of his season would play out.
"I am trying to make a club and it looks like I will probably be in AA in New Britain, Conn. again. Looks like I will probably be in the starting rotation to start out and we will see what happens from there," Albers explained.
"The plan is to hopefully pitch well enough to get promoted at some point this year and hopefully end the year in Rochester or if I pitch really well and catch a break or two maybe end up with the Twins by the end of the year."
He has already hit the fast forward button on one of those goals for the season and Major League Baseball is a realistic goal for the 27-year-old.
Albers is one of four left handed pitchers to make the Red Wings' roster, as he is slated to start in the bullpen.
The Red Wings regular season began Thursday, as they lost to Buffalo, but Albers didn't make his AAA debut in the season opener.
