University of Tennessee Athletics
AJ Russell Named to NCBWA Freshman All-America Team
June 12, 2023 | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Tennessee pitcher AJ Russell was named a first-team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) on Monday, becoming the 24th player in program history to earn Freshman All-America honors.
Russell is the fifth Vol to be named a Freshman All-American in the last three seasons and the sixth overall under head coach Tony Vitello.
The right-handed relief pitcher has put up eye-popping numbers in his true freshman campaign for the Big Orange, leading all pitchers on the team who have thrown a minimum of 25 innings with a 0.94 ERA, a 0.56 WHIP and a .100 opponent batting average. Russell is 2-0 on the year with 46 strikeouts and just seven walks in 28.2 innings pitched.
The Franklin, Tennessee, native has recorded multiple strikeouts in 15 of his 22 appearances and allowed just one run on five hits in 10 innings during SEC play.
Russell is the fifth pitcher to garner Freshman All-America recognition under Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson, joining the likes of Chase Burns (2022), Drew Beam (2022), Blade Tidwell (2021) and Sean Hunley (2018).
The full NCBWA Freshman All-America teams can be seen HERE.
Russell is the fifth Vol to be named a Freshman All-American in the last three seasons and the sixth overall under head coach Tony Vitello.
The right-handed relief pitcher has put up eye-popping numbers in his true freshman campaign for the Big Orange, leading all pitchers on the team who have thrown a minimum of 25 innings with a 0.94 ERA, a 0.56 WHIP and a .100 opponent batting average. Russell is 2-0 on the year with 46 strikeouts and just seven walks in 28.2 innings pitched.
The Franklin, Tennessee, native has recorded multiple strikeouts in 15 of his 22 appearances and allowed just one run on five hits in 10 innings during SEC play.
Russell is the fifth pitcher to garner Freshman All-America recognition under Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson, joining the likes of Chase Burns (2022), Drew Beam (2022), Blade Tidwell (2021) and Sean Hunley (2018).
The full NCBWA Freshman All-America teams can be seen HERE.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballBSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.8.25)
Sunday, June 08
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.7.25)
Saturday, June 07
BSB | Tennessee Official Super Regional Preview Press Conference (6.6.25)
Friday, June 06
BSB | Tony Vitello Pre-NCAA Super Regional Media Availability (6.5.25)
Thursday, June 05
