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Tennessee

AJ Russell signs over-slot contract with Texas Rangers

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/23/25_Cainer
AJ-Russell
Credit: UT Athletic Communications

AJ Russell got paid. The former Tennessee right-handed pitcher, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round with the No. 52 overall pick, signed with the organization on Wednesday for $2.6 million.

The slot value assigned to the pick was $1,846,700.    

The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder combined for a 4-2 record and a 2.70 ERA over 70 innings pitched throughout his three-year Volunteer career. Russell struck out 104 batters and walked just 26 in the process.

As a senior in 2025, the righty appeared in 12 games, starting six of them, and contributed a 2-1 record with a 3.55 ERA. Russell tossed 25.1 innings with 36 strikeouts and 11 walks. His sophomore year was derailed by injuries as he appeared in just six games (four starts) to log only 14.1 innings.

“Congrats to AJ,” Vitello said on MLB Network coverage following Russell’s selection. “They might be dreaming [Zach] Wheeler here type comp if he can improve his secondary stuff. I think, for now, just focusing on who AJ is.

“Freshman year, he’s on a staff with [Seth] Halvorsen, [Chase] Burns, [Drew] Beam, [Chase] Dollander – and he fit in. He was the type of guy we thought was getting squeezed out of innings because that staff is so talented. Kind of runs into an injury after exploding onto the scene as a prospect and potential top-10 pick in this draft.”

The pitcher was a NCBWA All-American and three-time Freshman All-American as a rookie in 2023, appearing in 21 games for an 0.89 ERA across 30.1 innings pitched.   

Russell was limited for the majority of his second year in the program after beginning the 2024 campaign as the club’s Opening Day starter. After some time off, rehab and a couple of returns to the mound following the initial injury, Russell needed Tommy John surgery in June of last summer.

Surgery was a success and proved a shorter recovery timeline as the repair was done with an internal brace, putting him on track to be back on the mound for the Orange & White in 2025. Russell made his return on February 24, pitching a clean 1-2-3 inning, but was then slow played back the rest of the year before finding a role as a swingman on the staff towards the end of conference play.

Russell was slated as the No. 70 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 37 from Baseball America ahead draft weekend.

Tennessee in the 2025 MLB Draft

*Denotes has signed with organization

Round 1 (No. 5 overall) Liam Doyle – Cardinals*
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) Steele Hall (signee) – Reds*
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) Billy Carlson (signee) – White Sox*
Round 1 (No. 13 overall) Gavin Kilen – Giants*
Round 1 (No. 20 overall) Andrew Fischer – Brewers
Round 1 (No. 25 overall) Kruz Schoolcraft (signee) – Padres
Round 1 (No. 33 overall) Marcus Phillips – Red Sox*
Round 2 (No. 52 overall) AJ Russell – Rangers*
Round 2 (No. 64 overall) Dean Curley – Guardians
Round 2 (No. 72 overall) Tanner Franklin – Cardinals*
Round 3 (No. 105 overall) Nate Snead – Angels*
Round 5 (No. 149 overall) Matt Barr (JUCO) – Twins*
Round 7 (No. 225 overall) Mason Estrada (portal) – Dodgers
Round 14 (No. 430 overall) Clay Edmondson (portal) – Padres
Round 15 (No. 456 overall) DJ Newman (portal) – Astros
Round 17 (No. 522 overall) Cannon Peebles – Guardians
Round 18 (No. 534 overall) Ethan Moore (signee) – Reds
Round 19 (No. 572 overall) Cameron Appenzeller (signee) – Mariners

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