Luke
Albright

2021 MLB Draft: The ace of the Golden Flashes, Albright is an intense competitor with a long-legged and athletic frame at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He works down the mound with an on-line delivery while throwing from a high-3/4 slot. His arm is loose and quick, producing 91-94 heat and he spots the fastball to his glove side, keeping left-handed hitters off the dish, while also hunting swings and misses up in the zone. Apart from the fastball, Albright shows three promising secondary offerings. The curveball is consistently 76-79 with spin in the 2500s, though he has seen better in th past, and it has plus potential. Albright flashes an above-average changeup in the mid 80s with some hard fade. His fourth pitch is a quality cutter/slider.

Another top arm from the Midwest, Albright is an intense competitor and the ace of the Golden Flashes. After posting a 1.90 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 23.2 IP during the shortened 2020 college season, Albright is off to a 5-3, 2.63 ERA start in 2021 with 70 strikeouts in 54.2 IP. Long-legged and athletic-bodied at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Albright works down the mound with an on-line delivery while throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. Oftentimes overthrowing on this look, he’s aggressive and throws with effort. A head snap also adds some deception to his look. Albright’s arm is loose and quick, producing 91-94 mph heat. He spotted his fastball to his gloveside, keeping left-handed batters off the dish and also hunted swing/miss up in the zone with his No. 1. However, his overall command was below average on this look, as was the life on his fastball. This combo caused the pitch to play down a grade from its pure velocity as it generated just a handful of swing/miss over his five inning, 97-pitch start. Besides his heater, Albright showed three promising secondary offerings. The best on this look was his curveball, thrown consistently in the 76-79 mph range while spinning into the 2500s. Those rpms are less than what the pitch spun last summer in the Grand Park Collegiate League (2650-2850 rpm), but his curve has plus potential. Albright also flashed an above average changeup thrown in the mid-80s with some hard fade. It was a firm change-of-pace with a 1700-1900 spin rate. His fourth pitch was a quality cutter/slider at 85-88 mph. The highlight of his day came in the fifth inning when he walked the leadoff man, the next batter reached on a weak infield chopper to third, followed by an attempted SAC that resulted in a bunt single. With the bases loaded and no outs, Albright went to his breaking stuff and got three consecutive KOs to thwart the RedHawk’s rally. His ability to take it to a higher level in this situation proved to me that the street credit given to his competitiveness was well-deserved. Overall, Albright has the stuff, abilities and makeup of a top five round pitching prospect this July.

Albright is a Friday night #MACtion arm that will draw an abundance of scouting heat this spring. After posting a 1.90 ERA with 22 punchouts in 23.2 frames during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, the righthander continued to impress in a short stint in the Grand Park College Summer League (6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 13 K, 1.50). Standing 6-foot-4 and working from a high ¾ release point, he does well to get downhill and spot his 92-to-94 mph fastball to either side of the plate. He throws a pair of breaking balls: a tight 85-to-86 mph slider and a less consistent high 70s curveball that he’d periodically cast in my viewing. Rounding out a four-pitch mix is a changeup with late tumble that he showed comfort to throw in any count. Golden Flashes coach Jeff Duncan compared Albright to Curt Schilling, both in terms of his pitching profile and his competitive bulldog mentality on the mound. The next big arm to be churned out by an historic Kent State program, Albright could come off the board in the 3rd-to-5th round range with a strong showing this spring.

After posting a 1.90 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 23.2 IP during the shortened 2020 college season for the Golden Flashes, Albright made quick work of opposing hitters at Grand Park. Long-legged and athletic-bodied at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Albright works down the mound with an on-line delivery while throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. He’s aggressive, throws with moderate effort and has a head dunk finish after ball release. His arm is loose and quick, producing 91-94 mph heat, spinning around 2100 rpm. An above average changeup thrown in the mid-80s with some sink was his best pitch on this look. It’s a firm change-of-pace with a 1700-1900 spin rate. His third pitch was a fringe average curveball thrown consistently in the 78-80 mph range, and it’s likely a better pitch than I saw on this look. His breaker showed tight spin (2650-2850 rpm) and has plus potential, but Albright struggled to finish the pitch out front, therefore most were left up, out of the zone. Overall, he has the look of a top five round pitching prospect for the 2021 draft.

3/26/18 Spring Scout Blog: 6-foot-4, 210 pound athletic righty had solid first outing of season, throwing 2 inns, giving up 1 H, 1 ER, allowing 1 BB and striking out 2. Senior Kent State commit competed on the mound in cold, windy conditions, sitting 87-88 with the fastball, touching an 89. Fastball showed good life with run arm side, commands the fastball glove side. Creates good momentum down the mound, landing with good direction and quick arm speed. Fastball jumped out of the hand, got on hitters late. Changeup was a plus pitch, arm side fade and sink, thrown with fastball arm speed, down in the strike zone at 79-80. Struggled early to feel and locate breaking ball, popped up out of hand and missed arm side, settled in and threw pitch outer half for strike later on. Breaking ball was 71-74 with good downward action and shape. Front line starter, solid #1 arm. 

6/20/17 East Coast Pro Showcase: 6-foot-4, 210-pound athletic body frame. Kent State University commit and ranked No. 11 overall in Indiana’s class of ‘18. On the mound he uses regular effort to his delivery, landing in a straight line at foot strike and carries his momentum in good direction toward home plate. Has quick arm speed coming through a ¾ slot. His fastball has good life to it along with a little run at 87-89 mph. His curveball has good depth with sharp break and some late bite at 71-73 mph. Showcased a changeup using fastball arm speed at 79 mph.

8/5/16 FUTURE GAMES: The athletic 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander flashed premium velocity, sitting 90-91 with his fastball. With his frame, athleticism and arm speed, there’s likely more in the tank, as well. He has long limbs and there’s plenty of room for continued physical development. He also has good feel for his 75-77 mph changeup, which he used frequently to get two strikeouts, while also flashing a 70-71 mph curveball that is still a work in progress.

6/24/16: The PBR Indiana staff has seen RHP Luke Albright (Fishers HS) a number of times over the last year and he has shown steady progress over that time. Currently ranked No. 17 in Indiana’s class of 2018, the projectable 6-foot-2, 190-pound righty has a compact delivery, with little wasted movement and quick, clean arm action throwing from a three-quarters slot. Earlier this week at a tournament at Grand Park in Westfield, Albright showed a mid-80’s fastball, topping out at 88 and a low-70’s breaking ball with signs of late action and depth. 

5/13/16 Game Notes: The 6-foot-2, 190 pounder didn't have his best stuff Friday evening against conference rival Westfield.  Getting the start, he went 2.1IP, allowing 6H, 4R, 6BB while striking out three. The fastball was mainly 84-85, up to 86-87 on a couple of occasions.  His breaking ball which at times had late action with some depth was 70-71.

6/22/15: A projectable 6-foot-2, 190 pound righty pitches predominately out of the stretch.  High leg kick.  High ¾ arm arm slot with a long, loose arm action.  Smooth rhythm in the delivery with level shoulders.  Good line to the plate, athletic finish.  Fastball was 82-85 and thrown for a strike.  10/4 breaking ball with late action at 70-71.  Arm speed is quick and projects to see a velocity jump in the near future.  High follow in the 2018 class.

6/9/15: The 6-foot-2, 190lb RHP showcased loose arm action. For a freshman, he has good feel for pitching. Pounded zone with FB at 83-84, T 86. FB has slight run. Delivery has smooth rhythm and easy arm action. His CB sat 70-71 with 10/4 shape. It has late break when throws it right. Luke’s CH was at 75-79 with some sink. Delivery is smooth and athletic. Good follow for 2018 class.