2023 Baseball Roster | College World Series
Roster
Russell, AJ
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Jersey Number 33
AJ Russell
- Class:
- Freshman
- Position:
- RHP
- B/T:
- R/R
- Ht/Wt:
- 6-6 / 195
- Hometown:
- Franklin, Tenn.
- High School:
- Franklin HS
Bio
CAREER BESTS
- Innings Pitched: 4.1 // vs. Texas Tech, 2/16/24
- Runs Allowed: 0 (27x) // last vs. Arkansas, 5/15/25
- ER Allowed: 0 (30x) // last at Cincinnati, 5/31/25
- Strikeouts: 10 // vs. Texas Tech, 2/16/24
- Walks: 0 (25x) // last vs. Wake Forest, 6/2/25
- Hits Allowed: 0 (21x) // last vs. Kentucky, 4/19/25
- Wild Pitches: 0 (18x) // last at Arkansas, 6/8/25
- Putouts: 1 (2x) // last vs. Auburn, 5/4/25
- Assists: 1 // vs. Wofford, 5/2/23
CAREER HONORS
- Selected in Second Round (No. 52 Overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers
- 2025 Baseball America Preseason All-American -- 1st Team (SP)
- 2024 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2024 NCWBA Preseason All-American -- 2nd Team
- 2022-23 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
- 2023 NCBWA All-American -- 3rd Team
- 2023 NCBWA Freshman All-American -- 1st Team
- 2023 Baseball America Freshman All-American -- 2nd Team
- 2023 D1Baseball.com Freshman All-American -- 2nd Team
2025
- Made six starts with 12 total appearances post-injury, striking out 36 over 25.1 innings
- Struck out six over 2.2 innings in relief, not allowing a single earned run, in Knoxville Regional win over Cincinnati (5/31).
- Winning pitcher in Tennessee's SEC Tournament opener against #15/23 Alabama (5/22), delivering 3.2 innings of work and five strikeouts.
- Delivered two innings of no-run baseball late and earned the win in game one over No.5/8 Arkansas (5/15).
- Notched 3.2 innings of relief with no earned runs to keep the Vols close versus No.10/11 Vanderbilt (5/10) with five strikeouts.
- Made his SEC debut for the season in a relief appearance against Kentucky (4/19), pitching 1.2 innings of no-run baseball.
- Retired two innings of batters with two strikeouts in a 10-2 midweek Volunteer victory over Alabama State (4/8).
- Pitched a scoreless opening frame, striking out two batters in a 7-1 midweek Volunteer victory over Tennessee Tech (4/1) during his second start on the mound after injury.
- Over eight months removed from Tommy John surgery, he pitched the first inning and struck out the side against North Alabama (2/25).
2024
- Returned from injury during the SEC Tournament against Vanderbilt (5/22) and didn't allow a run in one inning of work.
- Made his return to the mound against Alabama (3/17) after missing the last two weekends with soreness and looked good in a short starting stint, retiring the side in order in the second inning after giving up a run on a pair of hits in the first and struck out two batters in his two innings of work, as well
- Tossed three scoreless innings in home debut vs. UAlbany (2/23), striking our four while allowing three hits and one walk
- Electric in his 2024 debut against #18Texas Tech (2/16) at the Shriner’s College Showdown, striking out 10 batters and allowing just three hits across 4.1 innings during a 3-2 victory
2023
- Did not allow a hit and recorded one strikeout over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in CWS elimination game vs. #3 LSU (6/20)
- Appeared in UT’s first game of the College World Series, retiring the lone batter he faced vs. #3 LSU (6/17)
- Allowed just one hit and struck out two batters during 1.1 innings against Texas A&M (5/23)
- Struck out the side during the final inning of the series-clinching win over #9 South Carolina (5/20)
- Pitched twice in the series against #19 Kentucky on Friday (5/12) and Sunday (5/14), totaling 2.1 innings and four punchouts while allowing only one baserunner
- Fantastic out of the bullpen at Georgia (5/7), tossing a career-high 3.1 innings and striking out five while conceding just three hits and one run against the Bulldogs
- Picked up his second win against Wofford (5/2), going 2.1 innings and striking out five while not allowing a hit to the Terriers
- Earned his first career win against Eastern Kentucky (4/11), setting the Colonels down in order with a pair of Ks
- Tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts against #3 Florida (4/6)
- Pitched a flawless inning in relief during a combined shutout victory over UNC Asheville (3/28)
- Made his first career SEC appearance against Texas A&M (3/26), retiring the only batter he faced
- Threw a scoreless inning in relief against Lipscomb (3/14), tallying three strikeouts
- Made his first career start and retired all six batters he faced against Charleston Southern (3/1), including two punchouts
- Pitched in the first Friday-night home game against Dayton (2/24), striking out five across 2.1 perfect innings of work
- Impressed in his collegiate debut, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three while allowing just one hit to Alabama A&M (2/21)
HIGH SCHOOL
- Standout pitcher from Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, who helped lead the Admirals to the Class 3A state playoffs as a junior in 2021
- Rated as a Top 500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game and the No. 14 overall player in the state of Tennessee
- Named a Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention and Southeast All-Region team pick in 2021 and 2022
- Earned four Perfect Game All-Tournament team honors during his prep career, including the 2021 WWBA World Championship and the 2021 PG 17U National Elite Championship
- Named to 2022 Tennessean Large Class All-Midstate Team
- Tabbed a 2021 Main Street Preps All-Midstate Team selection
- Was dominant on the mound as a senior in 2022, going 6-1 with a 1.14 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 49.1 innings of work
- Had a breakout junior season in 2021, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.63 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched
- Played club baseball for Knights Baseball
- Also played soccer and basketball in high school
PERSONAL
- Full name is Andrew James Russell
- Born on June 29, 2004
- Majoring in Management and Entrepreneurship
- Son of Tom and Katherine Russell
- Has one younger sister, Annie Russell
- Graduated high school as an honor student
- Was a member of the high school band
- Chose Tennessee over Alabama and Western Kentucky
BSB | 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
