FINAL PIECES FALL INTO PLACE
Stormers Spring Roster Stands at 28
The Lancaster Stormers continue to fill out their roster for the upcoming spring training with the signings of right-handed pitchers Billy Sullivan and Luke Albright along with catcher Adam Hackenberg and returning utility man Nick Lucky, it has been announced by manager Ross Peeples.
In addition, left-hander Thomas Szapucki, previous announced as having signed, has opted to leave the club.
With these transactions, the Stormers now have 28 players on the spring roster, 14 of which are pitchers.
Sullivan, 26, will be in his second season with the Stormers. The Delaware native made his Atlantic League debut on May 30 of last season and went on to appear in 34 regular season games, going 2-2 with one save and a 3.78 ERA. He fanned 46 and struck out 20 in his 33.1 innings of work.
He also appeared in two games during the playoff series against York.
Prior to coming to Lancaster, Sullivan pitched in the Philadelphia, Oakland and San Francisco farm systems, spending the entire 2023 season at Class AAA Las Vegas, where he went 8-2. He is also the third product of the University of Delaware to sign with the Stormers in 2026, joining Joseph Carpenter and Justin Needles.
“Sully will probably end up in the back end of our bullpen,” said Peeples. “When he is on, he can be tough, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Albright, 26, has spent the last five seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after being drafted in the sixth round in 2021. He was 16-15 over 57 starts in his first three seasons, reaching as high as Class AA Amarillo, before moving to the bullpen the last two years.
The Indiana native was twice promoted from Amarillo to Class AAA Reno last season. Overall, he was 18-19 with a 5.68 ERA in the Arizona system. He struck out 370 batters in 332.2 innings of work.
Prior to the professional ranks, he was 12-7 in three seasons with the Kent State Golden Flashes.
“Albright will be in our rotation,” said Peeples. “He is an experienced guy, and several people gave us good reports on him. We will be depending on him to give us some depth into games.”
Hackenberg, 26, joins the Stormers after spending five seasons in the Chicago White Sox farm system, splitting each of the last three years between Class AAA Charlotte and Class AA Birmingham. Known more for his defense, he had his best offensive season in 2023, batting a combined .271 with eight homers. Through his pro career, he has thrown out 27% of opposing base stealers.
The native of Virginia was drafted by Chicago in 2021 out of Clemson University, where he batted .250 over three seasons.
He is the younger brother of former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who won 21 games for the Nittany Lions from 2013-15.
“Hackenberg will be our catcher,” said Peeples. “We have heard really good things about him defensively and how he handles a staff.”
Lucky, 26, will be entering his third season with the Stormers. The left-handed batter utility player hit .281 in 32 games in the 2024 season before his contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins. The Lancaster County native returned to Lancaster last year and put together a strong season all-around, hitting .293 with 51 extra base hits and driving home 87 runs while also scoring 82. He added 28 stolen bases.
Prior to joining the Stormers in 2024, Lucky hit .288 over five seasons at Coastal Carolina. He belted 30 homers and drove in 157 runs.
His versatility has also been highly useful. Lucky has been in Peeples’ starting lineup for multiple games at five different positions over the last two seasons.
“Lucky is my type of player,” said Peeples. “He can play all over the field and brings a little bit of everything to our team. He loves to compete and play baseall.”
The Stormers play four exhibition games before taking the field against the York Revolution on Tuesday, April 21 to begin the quest for a fifth straight playoff berth. Three nights later, the Stormers open the 21st season of baseball at Penn Medicine Park with a 6:45 contest against the Long Island Ducks.