Nathan Albert is a sophomore pitcher for the Bakersfield College baseball team. He was drafted in last June’s draft by the New York Yankees in the 45th round. Albert has a passion and commitment for the game of baseball. No matter what is going on in his life, Albert always has fun on the baseball field.
Head coach Tim Painton used the words “power arm” to describe Nathan Albert. “He is a guy that was blessed with an above average arm,” said Painton. “He’s a guy that shows up and tries to do his job. The ceiling is the limit for him.”
Renegade: Where were you born?
Nathan Albert: I was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1987
RR: What position do you play?
NA: Pitcher.
RR: Do you consider yourself a pretty good pitcher?
NA: I like to think that, I do my best.
RR: How long have you been playing baseball?
NA: Basically my whole life since I was five.
RR: Any favorite memories in your baseball career?
NA: Getting drafted was pretty good. I will always remember that.
RR: How were you drafted by the Yankees?
NA: I was out here playing last year when a scout came up to me and said he liked what he saw. I got an information packet and a business card with his name on it.
At the end of the season when the draft was coming up I was informed that I was most likely going to be drafted at that time. I did not know by whom. The day of the draft I got a phone call. It was a scout for the Yankees calling me saying we just drafted you.
RR: How did you feel after you got drafted?
NA: I was happy. I wasn’t going crazy over it. I told my family about it. I didn’t want to make a huge deal out of it.
RR: What inspires you?
NA: I guess you can say my family. I kind of motivate myself. I want to go out there and try and do better than last time. Every time I go out there I like to do one step better than the last game.
RR: Do you have any superstitions, wash your socks, play with the same glove; why?
NA: I try not to be too superstitious but most games when I pitch I’ll wear the same attire to the ballpark. I’ll wear sweats and a hoodie. I wear that when I throw. It’s something I did the first couple of games. I just kept doing it.
RR: If you don’t mind me asking, why didn’t you sign with the Yankees? Did it have anything to do with wanting to improve your draft status?
NA: It’s like a draft and follow so there was no money involved; I’m under contract with them (New York Yankees) kind of so no other team can get me in the draft. When the next draft comes up, I won’t have to be in it because I have already been drafted. The Yankees will assess me from this season to see how much better I’ve gotten.
RR: Which team is your favorite team to face off against?
NA: I don’t really have a favorite, I like going out and throwing to everybody. I just like going out and competing. I like Pierce a little bit because they are our rivals, I don’t have a favorite. I just like to go out there and throw.
RR: What is your favorite pro baseball team?
NA: I watch the Dodgers a lot because they always come on. I like the Twins a little bit; no real favorite, I watch them all.
RR: What high school did you go to?
NA: Stockdale High School.
RR: How does college baseball differ from high school baseball?
NA: The speed of the game is faster at the college level. In high school you can throw fastballs right by people and not think twice about it, but up here you throw a fastball in the middle no matter how hard you throw it.
It’s going to get hit hard, you really have to hit your spots and you have got to know how to pitch.
RR: Do you prefer to pitch at home or on the road?
NA: I actually prefer being at home because I’m used to our mound. I know our ballpark and everything real well. It’s better pitching here. I know how everything going to go here.
RR: Does pitching at home give you a homefield advantage?
NA: I guess you can say that. I know how the ball carries here, I know how deep our field is, how the grass is, how our mound is. I think that’s an advantage
RR: Is there a teammate that you seem to work pretty well with in particular?
NA: I work pretty well with everyone. I work real good with Edgar Sanchez. Him and me come out here and work a lot. Kyle Witten and I work a lot together, and we get along real well.
RR: What in your opinion is your best game pitched this season?
NA: Probably opening night stats wise, that was the best game that I pitched. Opening night was real good. I threw real well, went to the ninth inning and ended up getting a loss on that one, but I pitched well. That is probably the best pitching performance I’ve had.
RR: What are some goals that you have for the rest of the season?
NA: My goal coming into the season was to perform to the best of my ability, to come out and try and be a starter this year. I didn’t want to be in the bullpen, I like being a starter.