Glenn
Albanese

Albanese made his first appearance since opening weekend and was credited with the W after pitching 4.1 innings of shutout ball for the Cardinals against Boston College. He struck out five and allowed just one hit and one walk. With good down plane the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder was at his best throwing to the bottom of the zone and showed good arm strength, up to 96 mph with his high-spin fastball (2500+ rpm spin rate) while pitching mostly 93-94. It’s a velocity that he impressively maintained throughout his start. Albanese may lack the arm speed to ever throw a plus curveball, but his long-breaking bender played average due to his ability to repeat the pitch and throw it in the zone. He also mixed in a below average changeup at 79-80 mph as a third pitch. Off to a strong start with a 0.96 ERA in two starts and 9.1 IP, Albanese is likely to be selected early on Day Two this July.

Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 3 in the Illinois 2017 class and No. 45 overall.  Big strong frame at 6-foot-6, 225-pounds with wide shoulders and a strong lower half.  Still has room to add to his frame. Started on the mound and went four innings on the day. Worked from a high 3/4 slot with a long take away, loose and easy arm action, stays on-line to the plate.  Lands on a soft front leg and on occasion lands with an open toe.  Throws from the 1B side of the rubber.  Gets out front and extends.  Arm works well and the ball comes out clean.  Aggressive with a two-pitch mix with his fastball at 86-89 mph, sitting at 87 mph mostly.  Occasionally will get down plane with it, flat at times, throws it to both sides of the plate.  More fastball velocity in there for the future. Curveball at 70-73 mph with ¾ tilt, occasional depth. Around the strike zone with both pitches and battled out of jams when he got into them, shows feel to pitch.  Held his velocity through 4 innings.

Super 60 2017 - Louisville recruit. 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-handed pitcher, athletic build, big presence on the mound with lots of room for continued physical development. Albanese has clearly been doing some work in the off-season, as he showed vastly improved secondary stuff along with getting more lower half involvement. The end result was an extremely impressive bullpen at the Super 60. For his size, Albanese’s arm is quick, loose and athletic out of a high-¾ window. Relaxed demeanor on the mound, good tempo and pace, repeats drop-and-drive delivery. Fastball sat 90-91, topping at 92; two-seamer had late arm-side finish. Changeup flashed plus potential. Throws pitch aggressively, fastball arm speed, late sinking action at 81-84 down in the zone. Curveball had 12/6 action with some depth, around the zone with it. Overall, it looks like Albanese is just beginning to scratch the surface of his immense potential.

5.26.16 - Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 4 in the Illinois Class of 2017 and No. 56 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 6-foot-6, 220-pound right-handed pitcher with a strong, athletic frame. Prototypical pitchers build. Showed good body control for his size. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a quick arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with good balance throughout. Shorter stride out front for a guy of his size. Fastball sat 86-88 mph thru the outing with minimal effort. Fastball flashed some sinking action. Really turned it on in the 6th and 7th, sitting 88-89 mph. Put an exclamation point on his outing striking out the final hitter looking on an 89 mph fastball. Curveball has inconsistent shape, but mostly 11-5 at 72-73 mph. Flashed curveball with late breaking action off the plate. Changeup has plus potential, fastball arm speed with hard downer action at 80-81 mph. Trending upward heading into the summer circuit. 

5.12.16 - Louisville recruit, ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2017 class, No. 56 overall. 6-foot-6, 220-pound, durable, strong, prototypical right-handed pitcher. On a cold and windy day, continued to show he is one of the top 2017 arms in the state. Pounded the strike zone, held his velocity throughout and threw a complete game. Balanced, repeatable delivery with rhythm. Strides open, finishes on-line with regular effort throughout. Long, loose, quick arm action out of a high ¾ window. Feel for his release point, consistently getting extension out front, working the bottom of the strike zone and both sides of the plate. Attacked hitters with his fastball; flashed life, downhill tilt and occasional arm-side-run; fastball sat 88-90 mph early on. Following the third inning, fastball ranged between 85-89 mph. Maintained velocity out of the stretch, quick to the plate, mixing looks and timing; 1.10-1.20 to home. Kept hitters off balance with his fastball/curveball combination. Good feel for his curveball, throwing it for strikes, 11/5 shape, depth and ranged between 71-74 mph. More aggressive arm speed with the curveball later in the outing, as a result showed tighter, sharper action. Did not show a changeup on this day. Controlled the game, stayed even keel throughout the outing, bounced off the mound athletically and under control multiple times. Final Line – 7IP, 3R, 0ER, 5H, 1BB, 5K. High upside 2017 draft follow.

4.25.16 - Louisville recruit, ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2017 class, No. 56 overall. 6-foot-6, 220-pound, durable, strong, prototypical right-handed pitcher. On a cold and windy day, continued to show he is one of the top 2017 arms in the state. Pounded the strike zone, held his velocity throughout and threw a complete game. Balanced, repeatable delivery with rhythm. Strides open, finishes on-line with regular effort throughout. Long, loose, quick arm action out of a high ¾ window. Feel for his release point, consistently getting extension out front, working the bottom of the strike zone and both sides of the plate. Attacked hitters with his fastball; flashed life, downhill tilt and occasional arm-side-run; fastball sat 88-90 mph early on. Following the third inning, fastball ranged between 85-89 mph. Maintained velocity out of the stretch, quick to the plate, mixing looks and timing; 1.10-1.20 to home. Kept hitters off balance with his fastball/curveball combination. Good feel for his curveball, throwing it for strikes, 11/5 shape, depth and ranged between 71-74 mph. More aggressive arm speed with the curveball later in the outing, as a result showed tighter, sharper action. Did not show a changeup on this day. Controlled the game, stayed even keel throughout the outing, bounced off the mound athletically and under control multiple times. Final Line – 7IP, 3R, 0ER, 5H, 1BB, 5K. High upside 2017 draft follow.

Louisville commit. Strong, extra-large frame, sturdy build with projectability, 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, works online towards target, smooth delivery, athletic finish, little effort, works slide step from the stretch. Easy arm action, good balance, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, advanced arm speed. Fastball has arm side run, looked even sharper from the stretch with better command, sat 85-88 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, sharp hard action with aggressive fastball arm speed, thrown for strikes, 73-75 mph. Changeup has sink, fastball arm speed, showed deception, advanced arm action on the pitch, good feel with ability to throw for strikes, 81-82 mph. 2017 draft follow.

Strong 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher, broad shoulders, huge hands, looks to be one of the premier 2017 prospects in Illinois we’ve seen thus far. Recently sat 89-90 mph in a winter bullpen session. Works from a clean, short, high three-quarter slot, stays tall, works downhill well. 81-82 mph changeup shows excellent promise as well, thrown aggressively with plus action to his arm side. Breaking ball is a work in progress, added power to it this winter at 74-77 mph, currently lacks depth. With his size and arm, Albanese should become one of the more coveted 2017 prospects in the country.

Physically advanced 6-foot-4, 206-pound right-handed pitcher looks to be one of the premier 2017 prospects in Illinois we’ve seen thus far. Showcased the 2017 Top Prospect Games best fastball velocity, touching 86 multiple times in his second outing of the event. In the first day, Albanese sat 82-84, touching 85. In a brief second outing on Day 2, he was stronger, showing consistent 85-86 velocity with arm-side life down in the zone. Should see significant velocity spike in future when he begins to involve lower half more aggressively. Works from high three-quarter slot, stays tall, works downhill well. Upper-70s changeup shows excellent promise as well; threw a few in game play that had plus arm-side action. Pitch can evolve into power changeup. Also showed feel for curveball, in 69-71 range; showed ability to throw for strikes with gradual break. With his size and arm, Albanese should become one of the more coveted 2017 prospects in the coming years.

6/12/14 - 6-foot-4, 206-pound lanky, athletic RHP impressed as one of the top arms at the Underclass Trials, and easily was the top 2017 prospect in attendance.  Worked at 83-85 mph with slight run on fastball from a short, high ¾ arm action, pounding the bottom half of the zone for strikes.  Mechanically stayed online towards home plate with tall and fall delivery, front foot gets outside back knee at balance point.  Shoulders slope downward at foot strike, could get more out of front glove hand.  69-71 mph curveball showed 11/5 action, but backed up at times.  Flashed plus 78-80 mph power changeup from fastball arm action with arm side run and sink, easily his best secondary offering.  Albanese is a high follow prospect with a great frame and future.