AJ Russell is headed to Texas with his best baseball still in front of him.
The Tennessee baseball pitcher was taken No. 52 by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He was the fifth Vol taken in the first two rounds, which set a program record after UT had four taken in the first two rounds in 2024.
Russell was 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in three seasons at Tennessee. He struck out 104 in 70 innings across 42 appearances with 11 starts.
Tennessee had a program-record four players picked in the first round.
Pitcher Liam Doyle was picked No. 5 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Shortstop Gavin Kilen was chosen No. 13 by the San Francisco Giants. First baseman/third baseman Andrew Fischer was selected No. 20 by the Milwaukee Brewers. Pitcher Marcus Phillips was drafted No. 33 by the Boston Red Sox.
AJ Russell picked in second round by Texas Rangers
The 6-foot-6 Russell was 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 25⅓ innings. He pitched in 12 games with six starts after he was limited early in the season as he recovered from Tommy John. He missed most of the 2024 season due to injury.
Russell returned against North Alabama on Feb. 25. He did not pitch again until April 1 against Tennessee Tech then made his SEC debut against Kentucky on April 19. He covered 3⅔ innings, striking out five and allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk in Tennessee’s SEC Tournament win against Alabama on May 21.
AJ Russell had Tommy John surgery after 2024 season
Russell had Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He had the less-invasive internal brace version of the common elbow surgery, which has a shorter recovery period.
Russell was 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA in six games with four starts as a sophomore. He had 21 strikeouts in 14⅓ innings.
The Franklin native entered the season as Tennessee’s Friday night starter, but battled injuries and soreness throughout the season. He was shut down on March 23 and did not pitch for the next two months. He returned for the SEC Tournament and threw twice. He started against LSU in Tennessee’s 4-3 title-clinching win, but left injured and had surgery the following month.
He battled soreness after his freshman season during which he made 24 appearances with a 0.89 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 30⅓ innings.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
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