On the list of the dozens of legitimate prospects for the upcoming 2027 MLB Draft that will be in attendance at CHS Field and Target Field for the New Balance Future Stars Series Main Event, there are few who will likely see more eyes on them than Kade Luker.
Currently ranked as the No. 79 prospect on Baseball America’s HS Draft-eligible players list, we first saw Luker with us at the 2025 Underclass Elite, where he pitched at Globe Life Field and turned in a largely dominant outing as one of the more intriguing left-handed pitchers in his class in the country.
Luker liked how the event was run, liked the professional atmosphere that comes with a staff that has an uncountably-large amount of experience in the game. So he came back.
But, when he did, it was evident that there had been some significant strides made to his game, particularly as a hitter. He impressed on both sides of the ball at our National Combine, particularly shining on the mound in a dazzling showing at The University of Houston, but also stood out with the stick as well. Neither is a coincidence.
“Obviously, everybody sees me as a pitcher, but I think last year my hitting kind of took off a little bit,” he said. “I had a good summer hitting last year, and then I went into the school season and hit really well. Carrying that over to the summer circuit, it took me a minute to get adjusted to the velo, but once I did, I was able to put barrels on the ball and get on base pretty frequently. So, I think just continuing to hit; hit in the cages, hit with my buddies and just continuing to hit has overall helped me offensively. I’m definitely going to hit as long as possible, and whatever level I choose — whether it’s college or professional baseball — it’s going to come down to what the team needs and what the coaches feel is best for me. Whatever that is, is what I’ll end up doing for sure.”
Facing the high caliber of talent that comes through the FSS — and certainly what he sees when playing other places as well — has only benefitted Luker from a development standpoint.
“You’re facing the best people every weekend,” he said. “You’re not slacking, because you know you’ve got to go out there and execute pitches. If you don’t, they’re going to get hit around. You can’t sit there and throe fastball the whole time, you’ve got to throw the breaking ball, throw the changeup, and get outs efficiently.”
With the strides he’s made as a hitter, that’s also certainly not to say that his pitching development has become stagnant in any way. The opposite, actually. Our scouts see the “ingredients to envision a future middle of the rotation type left-handed starter,” one who they believe will be an MLB Draft pick next summer. That stock will only continue to rise as Luker remains diligent in putting in the work.
“Honestly, the big thing was getting in the weight room, gaining weight and getting stronger with my legs,” he said. “On the pitching side, being able to execute pitches more frequently and staying within myself and not getting out of my body trying to throw harder or execute a pitch differently. Just trusting my mechanics and trusting the work I’ve put in to be able to make those pitches.”
With big time stuff, of course, comes a big-time commitment. And for the Ruston, Louisiana native, where better to go than LSU if he ends up heading that route.
“It was pretty easy making that decision, because I’m from Louisiana and everyone from Louisiana wants to go to LSU, so getting that opportunity, it was kind of a no-brainer,” Luker said. “First, I went to Texas A&M, that was my first visit. My second visit was LSU, so I got there and it just felt like home immediately. I knew it was where I wanted to be, so it made the decision so much easier. When I announced my commitment, it just overwhelmed me with joy. It was a feeling I can’t even describe. I had visits lined up with A&M and LSU, and then I had Ole Miss, Auburn and Arkansas after LSU, but obviously I didn’t go on any of those because I committed to LSU when I was in Baton Rouge.”
To one day pitch at Alex Box would be a dream come true for Luker, no doubt. Being on the bump at Target Field this weekend certainly isn’t bad either, however. Understandably, he’s excited for another experience in a big league park, no less one in a place where he hasn’t been yet.
“It’s for sure exciting,” he said. “It’s a big league stadium, and I’ve never been to Minnesota, let alone the Twins stadium, so getting the opportunity to play there is going to be awesome. The big thing is you still have to play baseball. You can’t let the excitement of the stadium or the crowd overwhelm you, you still have to go out there and play your game; throw strikes when you’re on the mound and get on base whenever you’re hitting…in Arlington, I was definitely overwhelmed when I got there because I’d never been in a big league stadium. So, getting out there, I was a little nervous, but once I settled in, I was fine…you kind of get up there and don’t really think about it anymore too much, at least I didn’t at least. I’m sure Target Field will be the same way; get up there, look around for a second and just get to work.”
The dozens of big league scouts and execs in attendance are excited to see exactly what that work is going to look like. But what does Luker want to show them this weekend?
“I think just that I can compete with the best in the country,” he said. “Just ultimate competitor; can pitch, can hit, can do anything and plays the game the right way and plays hard.”
About New Balance Future Stars Series
New Balance Future Stars Series is a global platform for amateur baseball development and scouting, powered by a commitment to impact, integrity, and player-focused innovation. Its alumni can be found throughout professional baseball, and its events and partnerships have reshaped how talent is identified, nurtured, and celebrated.
Connect with New Balance Future Stars Series by visiting our website, www.futurestarsseries.com, by visiting our YouTube page, and by checking out the social media channels listed below.
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Since 2003, he has six World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked eight Super Bowls, 13 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, the NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Tournament, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast and motorsports fan, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son, future No. 1 overall draft pick in 2042, William, their beloved dog, Bailey, and occasionally well-behaved cat, Smokey.
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