Achter attended Clay High School in Oregon,Ohio,where he starred for the school's baseball and basketball teams.[1][2][3] In his senior year,2007,Achter had a 7–1 win–loss record with a 0.92 earned run average (ERA) and 102 strikeouts,as well as batting .429 and leading his team to their second straight district championship. He threw a no-hitter against Findlay High School,and was named Toledo City League Player of the Year,tournament MVP,first team All-Toledo City League,and first team All-Ohio. Achter was also named Clay's 2007 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.[citation needed]
Achter made his debut with the Michigan State Spartans in 2008 when he made eight starts and three relief appearances. Over 33.2 innings,Achter went 1–3 and had just a .224 batting average against. On May 4,A.J. made perhaps his best start of the year when he held the Penn State Nittany Lions to one hit over 7.1 innings pitched.
In his sophomore season,Achter tied for the team lead in starts with 14,going 3–6 with 57 strikeouts over 81.1 innings. A.J. allowed only four home runs and 34 earned runs,leading to an ERA of 3.76,second-lowest in the starting rotation.[4] In 2010,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[5][6]
Professional career
Minnesota Twins
Achter was selected in the 46th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Minnesota Twins,[7] but with two years of eligibility remaining at Michigan State and with no signing bonus offered by the Twins,A.J. had no reason to leave college. During the summer,Achter pitched a "lights-out" summer in the Cape Cod League,and two hours before the August signing deadline,the Twins gave Achter a $50,000 bonus to sign,which he accepted.[8][9]
Achter began the 2012 season with the Snappers, this time as a reliever, and quickly found his niche, going 3–1 with a 2.48 ERA over 40 innings. Achter's success earned the pitcher a mid-June promotion to the High-A Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League as well as an All-Star selection in the Midwest League. A.J. pitched another 34+1⁄3 innings while allowing three earned runs, leading to a sparkling 0.79 ERA to go along with 37 strikeouts and a 2–1 record.[citation needed]
As a result of his success the year before, Achter started 2013 with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League,[10] carrying a 2–0 record, 2.21 ERA, and 36 strikeouts over 36+2⁄3 innings of work. He was named to appear in the Eastern League All-Star Game.[11] Achter was promoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the International League.[12] While in Rochester, Achter went 1–2 with a 3.04 ERA, .198 batting average against, and 20 strikeouts over 23+2⁄3 innings, helping the Red Wings to their first playoff appearance since 2006.[citation needed] He was assigned to the Arizona Fall League after the season.[13]
In 2014, Achter began the year at Double-A with New Britain but did not remain there for long; after 6+2⁄3 scoreless innings in which Achter allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out 11, he was promoted to Triple-A Rochester where he was the only Red Wings player selected to the 2014 Triple-A All-Star Game.[14] On September 1, 2014, Achter's contract was selected by the Twins and he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time in his career. Two days later, he made his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox, pitching one inning in relief and not allowing a run.
Los Angeles Angels
On November 19, 2015, the Philadelphia Phillies claimed Achter off of waivers.[15] They designated him for assignment on December 11.[16] On December 17, 2015, Achter was claimed off of waivers by the Los Angeles Angels.[17] He began the season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. The Angels selected his contract on August 9, 2016. During the 2016 season, Achter posted a 3.11 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 27 games with the Los Angeles Angels.
Detroit Tigers
On December 9, 2016, the Detroit Tigers signed Achter to a minor league contract, and was invited to spring training.[18] In 14 appearances for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, he compiled a 5.34 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 28+2⁄3 innings pitched. Achter was released by the Tigers organization on June 6, 2017.[19]
Somerset Patriots
On June 28, 2017, Achter signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 22 games for the Patriots, he registered a 3-2 record and 4.08 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 35+1⁄3 innings pitched. Achter announced his retirement on January 8, 2018.
Achter has two siblings, Amanda and Austin. Austin is younger and played baseball and graduated from Ohio State University. His parents are Rod and Cindy. Rod was a wide receiver at the University of Toledo and eventually was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. A.J. is married to fellow Michigan State Spartan alumnus, Kaiti Nester. They have a purebred Shih Tzu, Izzy Nester-Achter. Izzy is named after Tom Izzo.[citation needed] A.J. and Kaiti live in Brighton, Michigan.[21]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
