Slugger Will Albertson experienced the worst offensive game of his 2015 baseball season Wednesday when he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts for the Asheboro Copperheads.

There was a reason.

“I’d been swinging the bat pretty well,” Albertson said. “But Wednesday was a whirlwind of emotions.”

Albertson, a rising senior at Catawba, was with the Copperheads in Florence, South Carolina, for a game in the Coastal Plain League, a summer wood bat league for college players.

“I was in the bullpen before the game and a teammate came running down there to tell me I’d just been drafted,” Albertson said.

That explains the whirlwind of emotions.

Albertson was drafted by the New York Yankees. The Yankees are a polarizing organization, either loved or hated. Albertson appreciates the tradition, but he doesn’t get emotional about the pinstripers.

“I don’t really have a team,” he said. “I’m just a fan of the game.”
Albertson, who played at Division I Campbell for two years before transferring to Catawba for his junior season, wasn’t drafted high. The draft lasted 40 rounds, and the Yankees took Albertson with their final pick. He was the 1,203rd player picked. Albertson was chosen exactly 1,000 picks after Catawba teammate and friend Craig Brooks, a right-handed pitcher the Cubs grabbed on the seventh round.

Albertson, 20, was the finest hitter in Division II for the national runner-up Indians (47-15). He was first in batting average (.467), second in RBIs (91) and third in homers (26). He was the SAC Player of the Year and Southeast Region Player of the Year. Three organizations named him national player of the year.

With all those credentials and accolades, the 40th round seems ludicrously low, but Albertson was honored, not insulted.

That’s his personality.

“First round or 40th round, it’s awesome and I’m thankful to get taken,” Albertson said.

Albertson was recommended to the Yankees by area scout Billy Godwin, the former East Carolina coach who roams the Carolinas.

The Yankees have contacted Albertson since the draft, but he hasn’t been offered a contract yet. Albertson said Godwin made three or four trips to see Catawba play, always on days when Brooks was the scheduled starting pitcher. But when Brooks pitched, that meant T.J. Wharton was catching with Albertson in the lineup either in the outfield or serving as the DH.

Albertson’s primary defensive position is catcher, and it’s going to be his ability to catch that will determine how high he can go up the baseball ladder.

“They’ve seen me hit and they believe the bat is there,” Albertson said. “But I’m a lot more valuable if they like my catching. They want to come watch me catch some games with the Copperheads before they make their offer. So it’s a wait-and-see thing.”

One baserunner tried to steal second for Florence on Wednesday. Albertson threw him out.

Albertson has positive choices ahead of him. He’s in a win-win situation.

“I had a great time playing for Catawba and we had five freshmen in the lineup who are all going to get better, so we’d be strong again,” Albertson said. “Going back to school is definitely an option.”

D-II coaches are cheering for Albertson to sign with the Yankees. But if he does return to Catawba, he’ll be the leader, No. 3 hitter and starting catcher that another championship team can be built around.

“We accomplished a lot, but we finished second in the nation,” Albertson said. “I’d be happy batting .250 next season if Catawba won it all. Winning is what it’s all about.”