Twins draft Albanese in the seventh round, 213th overall

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After putting together one of the best offensive seasons in program history, Bryant University baseball junior outfielder Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) was selected in the seventh round, 213th overall, by the Minnesota Twins on day two of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Albanese becomes the 10th Bulldog to be drafted in the past four years and the 14th in the program's history. He is the highest drafted position player in school history and the fourth highest drafted player overall.

Bryant's starting centerfielder this season, Albanese hit .366 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs, 52 RBI and 56 runs scored despite missing the final 10 games of the year with an injury. He walked 28 times, struck out just 15 times in 183 at-bats, stole 15 bases and posted a .471 OBP. Albanese's 11 home runs and 56 runs scored are the second most in Bryant's DI history. He had two multi-homer games in 2016 and he drove in five or more runs on three occasions.

A former Freshman All-American and Northeast Conference and New England Rookie of the Year, Albanese wraps up his Bryant career with a .336 average, 182 hits, 40 doubles, nine triples, 18 home runs, 116 RBI and 144 runs scored.