Andrew Albers gets Opening Day nod
Buffalo Bisons manager Gary Allenson has named LHP ANDEW ALBERS as his Opening Day starting pitcher as the Herd hosts the Rochester Red Wings on Thursday, April 9 at Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.).
Following Albers, the Bisons scheduled rotation to start the 2015 season will be RHP Scott Copeland, LHP Randy Wolf, RHP Chad Jenkins and LHP Jeff Francis.
Albers, 29, was a 2013 International League All-Star with Rochester, posting an 11-5 record and a 2.86 ERA in 22 starts for the Red Wings. That season, he struck out 116 and walked just 32 and was given the Jim Rantz Award as the Minnesota Twins' Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year. The 2015 season marks the southpaw's return to affiliated baseball after spending all of last season with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. Albers led the Eagles in stats (28) and strikeouts (107) while posting a 6-13 record and a 5.89 ERA.
A native of North Battleford, Canada, Albers pitched for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and also won bronze with the Canadian National team at the 2011 Baseball World Cup.