Alaskan Pitcher Curtis Hebert Makes Season Debut for Single-A Fayetteville

The 22-year-old right-hander from Anchorage struck out a top prospect in his 1.2 innings of relief work.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:43am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic nature of the sport.A cubist interpretation of an Alaskan pitcher's delivery, capturing the raw energy and athleticism of the sport.Anchorage Today

Curtis Hebert, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher from Anchorage, Alaska, made his season debut for the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Tuesday. Hebert, who was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round last season, struck out a top Tampa Bay Rays prospect in his 1.2 innings of relief work, but also gave up an unearned run due to defensive errors behind him.

Why it matters

Hebert is one of only two Alaskan players currently playing professional baseball, and his debut marks an important milestone in his young career. As a former Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year, Hebert's progress through the minor leagues is being closely watched by baseball fans in his home state.

The details

Coming on with two outs in the third inning and his team trailing 2-0, Hebert struck out right fielder Brailer Guerrero, a top 20 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system, with a runner in scoring position. In the fourth, he got the first batter to fly out before hitting the next guy, but then picked him off. Back-to-back errors by his defense extended the inning and led to an unearned run. In the fifth, back-to-back walks doomed Hebert as it led to one run before the bullpen allowed another run charged to his ledger.

  • Hebert made his season debut on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • Hebert was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round last season out of the University of Portland.

The players

Curtis Hebert

A 22-year-old right-handed pitcher from Anchorage, Alaska, who was the 2022 Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year from South High and was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round last season out of the University of Portland.

Brailer Guerrero

A top 20 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system who Hebert struck out with a runner in scoring position.

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What they’re saying

“There are two Alaskans playing professional baseball for MLB affiliates this season, and we finally saw one of them on the field this season on Tuesday, when Curtis Hebert pitched in relief for the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers.”

— Van Williams, Reporter

The takeaway

Hebert's debut is an exciting milestone for Alaskan baseball, as the state continues to produce talented players who are making their mark in the minor leagues. His performance, despite the unearned runs, shows the potential that led the Astros to draft him, and fans will be eager to follow his progress as he works to climb the ranks towards the major leagues.