QUEBEC'S ANDREW ALBERS JOINS TWINS, GIVES CAN-AM LEAGUE FIVE IN MAJORS

The Can-Am League has only five teams these days and now it has the equivalent of one major league player per organization.

The newest major leaguer is left-handed pitcher Andrew Albers, who joined the Minnesota Twins Saturday, and is scheduled to make his big-league debut Tuesday in Kansas City.

Albers will be the eighth former Independent Baseball player to play his first major league game this season, the highest number since nine broke in two years ago. Two of the others also are with Minnesota, Can-Am League first baseman Chris Colabello and American Association southpaw hurler Caleb Thielbar. Albers, a Canadian native, had a brilliant 2010 season as a reliever with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League, saving 17 games and winning his only three decisions while posting a 1.40 earned run average. Colabello played his first seven professional seasons in the Can-Am League, mostly with Worcester, MA, while Thielbar did a stint with St. Paul, MN in the American Association.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan praised the 27-year-old Albers when he told MLB.com “you can’t overlook what he’s accomplished down there (Triple-A Rochester, NY) every time he pitches. He has a knack of being able to produce quality innings.” Albers, who pitched for Canada in the World Baseball Classic in March, was 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 22 starts for Rochester.

“I’m really thrilled to be here,” Albers told MLB.com. “I’m glad I’ve got a couple days to take in the atmosphere, get (acclimated) to the club and those good things.”

The other Can-Am League grads in the majors also are pitchers, Steve Delabar (Brockton, MA) with Toronto, and Luis Garcia (Newark, NJ) and Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH) both with Philadelphia.

The count of former Independent players on active major league rosters remains at a season-high 25 with the addition of Albers and pitcher Chaz Roe

SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER. Only $35 through December, 2013. Scouts: $24

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions