Matt Albers

High school career

In 2001, Matt Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. That year, in the 2001 MLB Draft, the Astros took him in the 23rd round.

Minor leagues

Matt Albers worked his way up through the minor leagues and started 2006 at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he went 10–2 with an 2.17 ERA.

Houston Astros

In late July 2006, the Astros called him up to the Major Leagues. Matt Albers pitched a few games in relief, then made his first Major League start against the San Diego Padres on August 3, 2006.

When Matt Albers was sent back down shortly after the San Diego start, it was to AAA Round Rock. Matt returned to the Majors when rosters expanded on September 1.

In 2006, Matt Albers was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year.

Matt Albers got his first Major League win on May 5, 2007, against the Cardinals, when he pitched  7 ¹⁄₃ 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 Red Sox.

On December 12, 2011, Albers signed a one-year deal to return to Boston, thus avoiding arbitration.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On July 31, 2012, The Red Sox traded Albers and OF Scott Podsednik to Arizona 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  11 ²⁄₃ 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.

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.