AJ Russell Adds Freshman All-America Honors from Baseball America
July 06, 2023 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Picking up his third Freshman All-America honors, Tennessee baseball's AJ Russell was named a Second Team Freshman All-American by Baseball America on Wednesday afternoon.
With the acclaim, Russell becomes the seventh player in program history to be named a Freshman All-American by three separate outlets, joining pitchers Drew Beam and Chase Burns in 2022, outfielder Kentrail Davis in 2008, utility Jeff Lockwood in 2007, catcher Javi Herrera in 2001 and outfielder Kurt Keene in 1997.
The Franklin, Tennessee native posted a 0.89 ERA in his first year on Rocky Top, holding opposing hitters to a .095 batting average and allowing just 0.53 walks and hits per inning. All three of those categories led the team among pitchers with over 30 innings. The right-hander also amassed a 2-0 record and 47 strikeouts while conceding just seven walks on the year.
Russell previously was named a First Team Freshman All-American by the NCBWA on June 12 and garnered Second Team honors from D1Baseball.com on June 30.
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The full Baseball America Freshman All-America Teams can be found HERE.
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Tennessee Baseball 2023 Postseason Honors
Drew Beam – So. – RHP
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Selection
Chase Dollander – Jr. – RHP
CSC Academic All-America -- 3rd Team
Zane Denton – Sr. – 3B
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Jared Dickey – R-So. – OF/C
All-SEC -- 2nd Team
Andrew Lindsey – Jr. – RHP
Baseball America All-American -- 3rd Team
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Griffin Merritt – Gr. – OF/DH
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Christian Moore – So. – INF
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Selection
NCAA Clemson Regional MVP
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
AJ Russell – Fr. – RHP
NCBWA All-American -- 3rd Team
NCBWA Freshman All-American -- 1st TeamÂ
D1Baseball.com Freshman All-American – 2nd Team
Baseball America Freshman All-American – 2nd Team
With the acclaim, Russell becomes the seventh player in program history to be named a Freshman All-American by three separate outlets, joining pitchers Drew Beam and Chase Burns in 2022, outfielder Kentrail Davis in 2008, utility Jeff Lockwood in 2007, catcher Javi Herrera in 2001 and outfielder Kurt Keene in 1997.
The Franklin, Tennessee native posted a 0.89 ERA in his first year on Rocky Top, holding opposing hitters to a .095 batting average and allowing just 0.53 walks and hits per inning. All three of those categories led the team among pitchers with over 30 innings. The right-hander also amassed a 2-0 record and 47 strikeouts while conceding just seven walks on the year.
Russell previously was named a First Team Freshman All-American by the NCBWA on June 12 and garnered Second Team honors from D1Baseball.com on June 30.
Â
The full Baseball America Freshman All-America Teams can be found HERE.
Â
Tennessee Baseball 2023 Postseason Honors
Drew Beam – So. – RHP
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Selection
Chase Dollander – Jr. – RHP
CSC Academic All-America -- 3rd Team
Zane Denton – Sr. – 3B
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Jared Dickey – R-So. – OF/C
All-SEC -- 2nd Team
Andrew Lindsey – Jr. – RHP
Baseball America All-American -- 3rd Team
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Griffin Merritt – Gr. – OF/DH
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
Christian Moore – So. – INF
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Selection
NCAA Clemson Regional MVP
NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team
AJ Russell – Fr. – RHP
NCBWA All-American -- 3rd Team
NCBWA Freshman All-American -- 1st TeamÂ
D1Baseball.com Freshman All-American – 2nd Team
Baseball America Freshman All-American – 2nd Team
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
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OF/C
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RHP
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RHP
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OF
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INF
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RHP
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