Al Alburquerque
Encyclopedia
Alberto José Alburquerque (born June 10, 1986) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
. He is 6'0" tall and weighs 195 pounds. Alburquerque began his professional career in 2006 and made his Major League debut in 2011.
farm system. He went 0–2 with a 5.98 ERA in eight games (five starts) that season. He also had 15 strikeouts in 12⅔ innings. In 2007, he played for the Boise Hawks
and Peoria Chiefs
, going a combined 4–6 with a 5.83 ERA in 21 games (10 starts). In 66⅓ innings, he struck out 69 batters. He did not play at all in 2008.
Alburquerque began the 2009 season in the Cubs system, pitching for the Daytona Cubs
. However, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
partway through the season as a player to be named later in a deal that sent Jeff Baker to the Cubs. He finished the season with the Tulsa Drillers
. Overall, he went 2–3 with a 2.80 ERA in 47 relief appearances, striking out 75 batters in 61 innings. He pitched for the Drillers again in 2010, going 2–4 with a 4.98 ERA in 25 relief appearances.
Following the 2010 season, he became a free agent and signed a major league contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was assigned to the Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
following spring training.
. He struck out the first batter he faced and pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Alburquerque is known as a two pitch pitcher with a traditional 4-seam fastball that ranges anywhere between 95–98 mph and his secondary pitch, or "out-pitch", is a slider with tremendous tilt and break that ranges between 86–88 mph. Though only in his first full season in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers, he is building a reputation throughout baseball as having one of the "nastiest" sliders in the league. His K/9 ratio is well above the league average and currently sits at 14.1 K/9 IP.
On August 12, 2011, Alburquerque was hit in the head by a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles
' Robert Andino
during batting practice. He was taken to the hospital and stayed overnight for tests. The next day, the Tigers placed him on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He is 6'0" tall and weighs 195 pounds. Alburquerque began his professional career in 2006 and made his Major League debut in 2011.
Minor leagues
Signed by scout Jose Serra, Alburquerque began his professional career in 2006 with the AZL Cubs, in the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
farm system. He went 0–2 with a 5.98 ERA in eight games (five starts) that season. He also had 15 strikeouts in 12⅔ innings. In 2007, he played for the Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
and Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
, going a combined 4–6 with a 5.83 ERA in 21 games (10 starts). In 66⅓ innings, he struck out 69 batters. He did not play at all in 2008.
Alburquerque began the 2009 season in the Cubs system, pitching for the Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
. However, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
partway through the season as a player to be named later in a deal that sent Jeff Baker to the Cubs. He finished the season with the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
. Overall, he went 2–3 with a 2.80 ERA in 47 relief appearances, striking out 75 batters in 61 innings. He pitched for the Drillers again in 2010, going 2–4 with a 4.98 ERA in 25 relief appearances.
Following the 2010 season, he became a free agent and signed a major league contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was assigned to the Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
following spring training.
Major Leagues
Alburquerque made his major league debut on April 15, 2011 against the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He struck out the first batter he faced and pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Alburquerque is known as a two pitch pitcher with a traditional 4-seam fastball that ranges anywhere between 95–98 mph and his secondary pitch, or "out-pitch", is a slider with tremendous tilt and break that ranges between 86–88 mph. Though only in his first full season in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers, he is building a reputation throughout baseball as having one of the "nastiest" sliders in the league. His K/9 ratio is well above the league average and currently sits at 14.1 K/9 IP.
On August 12, 2011, Alburquerque was hit in the head by a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
' Robert Andino
Robert Andino
Robert Lazaro Andino is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Baltimore Orioles. Prior to joining the Orioles in 2009, he spent parts of four seasons with the Florida Marlins from 2005 through 2008...
during batting practice. He was taken to the hospital and stayed overnight for tests. The next day, the Tigers placed him on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.