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Hughes says: “Luke is one of the top leaders in our program and he continues to overcome adversity to make himself a better player. He’s basically learning how to play with vision in one eye. There’s not too many more players in our program who we respect more than Luke. He’s progressed far enough along to where he can compete for a right-handed DH spot.”

2010: Was hit by a pitch in a pinch-hit appearance against West Virginia and scored a run ... Started in left field in game two with Long Island and went 2-for-3 ... Also stole his first base in more than three years ... Scored in a pinch-running appearance in game three ... Singled and scored in game four ... In a pinch-hit appearance vs. Columbia, hit his first home run since 2007 with a solo shot in the eighth inning ... Drew his first walk of the season in substitute duty against NC Central ... Scored a run against NC A&T in a pinch-running appearance ... Scored as a pinch-runner in the game-three win over UVa ... Scored twice as a pinch-runner in the Duke series.

2009: Had a limited role as he recovered from a 2008 eye injury that left him with very restricted vision in one eye … Managed to hit .304 in 23 at bats over 17 games … Went hitless in his first four pinch-hit appearances (Feb. 20 vs. UNC Asheville, Feb. 22 at USC Upstate, March 10 at Radford, March 15 vs. No. 1 UNC) … Picked up his first hit since 2007 with a single in the ninth against No. 3 GT on March 22 … Pinch-ran in two games at NC State … Collected a pinch-hit single and scored a run in game one with Wake Forest … Started at DH vs. JMU pn April 8 and went 0-for-1 … Tallied a pinch-hit single in game three with Clemson and scored a run … Recorded a pinch-hit single in the final game at Miami … Started at DH vs. Radford on April 29 and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored … Had an RBI single in the second Delaware State game … Underwent left wrist surgery in the offseason.

2008: After being named MVP of the team’s fall world series, suffered a serious eye injury during preseason practice and missed the entire year.

2007: Played a number of roles while seeing action in 32 games … Started at DH in the opener at Charlotte and collected a hit … Picked up a single in three trips to the plate against Minnesota … Started at third in all three North Carolina A&T games … Had two hits, including a double and his first collegiate home run in game one … Drove in four runs during the three-game series … Contributed a two-run, pinch-hit double against Marist … Picked up a pinch hit in the final game against UNC … Started in left field against JMU … Homered in game one against Virginia … Started at third in game three versus Clemson … Hit a decisive three-run homer against Richmond … Started all three FSU games in left field … Drove in a run in game three … Was the starting DH during the Miami series … Doubled as a pinch hitter in game three at BC … Hit a solo home run at VMI … Doubled and drove in a run during the season finale against Wake Forest … Ended up with 13 starts at DH, seven at third base and five as the left fielder … Hit .500 as a pinch hitter (3-for-6) … Carried an overall .237 batting mark … Tied for the team lead in homers with four and added six doubles.

2006: Played in 36 games … Picked up 20 starts as the designated hitter … Added four starts at third base and one at first … Batted .283 with 10 doubles and three triples … Walked as a pinch hitter in his only plate appearance at Campbell … Got his first start as the DH in the third Towson game … Contributed an RBI-double in three at bats … Had a game-winning, two-run single in 12th inning at Richmond … Started at DH against Liberty … Used as a pinch hitter twice at Miami, but did not reach base … Tied the third BC game with a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the ninth … Started as the DH in home game against Richmond but did not pick up a hit … Started at third base in the last game at Wake Forest and contributed a double … Was the starting DH at Radford … Contributed two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs … Had two hits and scored two runs in second Georgia Tech game … Posted a triple and double among his three hits in game three of the series … Added two hits against Appalachian as the DH … Had a pair of hits and a RBI against UNC, but struck out five times … Went 3-for-4 against Marshall with three runs scored and two RBIs … Tripled and doubled in that game … Was 3-for-3 with three RBIs in win against Duke … Doubled in a run in final game at Clemson … Drove in two runs and scored two in home win against VCU … Had just three hits over the final seven games of the season.

High School: Lettered four years for Coach Barry Godsey at Rustburg High … Did a little of everything … Saw action at third base and shortstop, as well as on the mound and in the outfield … Was the 2005 Seminole District Player of the Year after leading the league in batting average (.456), home runs (6) and runs batted in (26) … Earned first-team all-area and all-region … Named second-team Group AA all-state … Was first-team all-district as an infielder his final two seasons and first-team as an outfielder as a sophomore … Led the team in batting as a freshman with a .429 average … Finished with a career batting average of .387 … Belted 17 career homers and 27 doubles, driving in a total of 75 runs.

Personal: Luke Anderson Padgett … Born 8/8/86 in Lynchburg, Va. … Son of Lewis and Darleene Padgett … Enrolled in residential property management.