GREENVILLE — East Carolina slugger Luke Lowery is off to an unbelievable start for the Pirates this season.

The 6-foot-2 junior has never been short on talent. During his career at Cosby high school in Midlothian, Va., Lowery was rated as the eighth-best prep player in the state, while playing under his father, Tim. In 2011, His brother Jake, currently in the Cleveland Indian’s minor league system, won the Johnny Bench Award given out annually to college baseball’s best catcher.

Taking Lowery’s background into account, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that he is leading the Pirates in more than a few major offensive categories.

What is a surprise, however, is the rate at which the utility player/designated hitter is producing.

Through the Pirates’ 21 games so far this season, Lowery is batting .509 with eight home runs, 27 RBI and 54 total bases. He leads the team in every one of those categories despite missing five games with an injury.

Just last week, in the midst of ECU’s current 14-2 run, Lowery was named the National Player-of-the-Week, as well as the American Athletic Conference Hitter-of-the-Week. In that seven-day stretch alone, Lowery hit a home run in four of five games and increased his long ball season total by eight, good for not only first on the team, but also first in the nation.

“It’s something that you’re proud of and you have to stay humble,” Lowery said. “I look at the guys in front of me, those guys are getting on and giving me an opportunity to drive them in. I had a great week last week but its over, I have to move on from it, but it’s very exciting and I’m happy it happened.”

The question that is on the mind of just about every opposing pitcher is simple: what is Lowery doing so different so far this year?

During his first two seasons in a Pirate uniform, he hit a combined eight home runs. ECU hasn’t even hit conference play and already the junior has matched that total.

For Lowery, the answer isn’t so difficult. Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Cliff Godwin, a man known around the coaching ranks for his offensive prowess, Lowery has changed both his approach and his swing. Right now it all seems to be coming together for the junior.

“Coach Godwin’s given us a great approach and right now we’re just seeing the ball up,” Lowery said.

But it goes beyond just the diamond, according to his coach. Godwin has preached a new mental approach and has instated a no nonsense approach.

“He’s just seeing the ball good,” Godwin said of his streaking slugger. “He’s much more mature than he’s ever been before. He’s relaxed, he’s having fun. He’s a great teammate, that’s the thing I’m most proud of. He pulls for his teammates as much as he wants his team to have success and that’s very fun to see.”

At his current pace, Lowery could very well finish the season as a candidate for the Golden Spikes, college baseball’s award given to the best player. Whether this is the real Luke Lowery or just a mirage of his potential will remain to be seen.

“Right now it’s a hot streak but hopefully the whole season it pans out and everybody stays involved,” Lowery said.