AJ Russell will live out SEC baseball dream with Volunteers
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BVM) — AJ Russell and his family moved to Franklin, Tennessee from Oregon when he was a high school junior. This would be quite the adjustment for most high schoolers. But for Russell, this was the run-of-the-mill that he was used to.
Due to his mom’s government job, this would be the ninth time that the Russell family would move.
“You learn a lot from it,” Russell said. “I can say I have friends all over the country now.”
With some of his stops including Baltimore and San Francisco, Tennessee was a bit more unique for Russell. But having already spent time in South Carolina, it was not a complete culture shock when he moved back to the Southeast region.
“I already listened to a lot of country music,” Russell said. “I was kind of the only one in my family that did.”
Outside of his music taste, Russell fit right in with his love for the game of baseball.
Russell has been an anchor for the Franklin High School rotation since he arrived and is ranked as the No. 6 player in the state. After the 6-foot-5, 185 pound righthander put up a 0.63 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 44.1 innings as a junior, he committed to the Tennessee baseball program the following summer.
I am extremely blessed and excited to announce my commitment to further my academics and baseball career at the University of Tennessee. I would like to thank God, my coaches and my family for everything they have done to get me to this position. Go Vols! #committed pic.twitter.com/8e1TWNLzhC
— AJ Russell (@AJRusse63736553) July 11, 2021
“It felt like home,” Russell said. “It really felt like they wanted me there. They were constantly reaching out.”
While staying in-state was a big benefit, Russell has always had a dream of wanting to play SEC baseball.
“It’s the best of the best,” Russell said. “You see the best hitters night-in, night-out. You also get to play in front of the best crowds.”
At the end of the day, the people at Tennessee stood out for Russell more so than any other SEC program.
“The coaching staff is amazing,” Russell said. “Coach Anderson has a huge resume, so that made me very excited as well. And with Vitello being as passionate as he is, I love playing under fiery coaches. It all kind of shaped up the way I wanted it to in the end.”
With the numbers that Russell put up in his senior season, the Tennessee program is pretty happy with the way it shaped up also. He finished the year with a 6-1 record, a 1.14 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched.
It is no secret that Tony Vitello loves guys that can rack up the strikeouts. One of his former players that was the epitome of this was Max Scherzer, who is also one of Russell’s favorites to watch.
“I love watching him pitch,” Russell said. “I try to learn things he does. Just kind of watching what pitches he throws in what scenarios.”
The long-term goal for Russell is to get where Scherzer is one day: on a major league mound.
If all goes to plan, Russell will be moving a lot more in his future as he climbs up the levels of minor league baseball.
“That’s one of those things that I’ve always kind of dreamed of and have been working towards in a way,” Russell said. “I’m excited to get a lot better at Tennessee. They bring the best out of guys. Hopefully that gets me to being a lot better than where I’m at now.”
