2007 MLB Draft: Last Name Search

Records found matching "russell": 3

Players signed indicated in Bold

Round Overall Team Player Position School State Bonus
4 142 STL Kyle Russell of Texas TX
No potential first-rounder creates as much divergent opinion as Russell, whom some teams rate as no more than a fourth- or fifth-round talent. He plays in a tough hitter's park and against quality competition in the Big 12 Conference, and he led NCAA Division I with 26 homers with a week remaining in the regular season. That total obliterated the Longhorns record of 20, and he also led the nation in slugging percentage (.877). He has a quick bat and lefthanded power to all fields, and he also offers solid athleticism, speed and arm strength. Yet a lot of scouts aren't sold on his stroke and approach. They say it's a grooved swing with too much uppercut, and pitchers can get him out by working up in the zone or coming inside. They also wonder how he'll handle quality lefthanders. Russell has performed poorly on national stages in front of scouting directors and crosscheckers in the past, going 0-for-19 with 12 strikeouts at the 2004 Area Code Games and batting .206 with a league-record 64 strikeouts in 126 at-bats in the Cape Cod League last summer. But he still has a big ceiling, and as one scout who likes him says, "I defy any lefthanded hitter to hit 26 home runs in that ballpark against the competition they face. At some point you have to give him credit for that." Another draft-eligible sophomore at Texas, Russell like Brad Suttle is advised by the Hendricks brothers and could seek a seven-figure bonus. He could get that in the first round, and the asking price could be a ploy to steer him to a club that will pay him in the sandwich round.
14 427 CHC James Russell lhp Texas TX $350,000
Lefthander James Russell, whose father Jeff was an all-star closer, has a long, lean 6-foot-4, 206-pound frame, but his game is all about finesse and not power. His best pitch is his changeup, followed by a fringy 84-88 mph fastball and a marginal breaking ball.
49 1427 STL Ronald Russell rhp Harmony Grove HS, Camden, Ark. AR

indicates Premium Content | Copyright © 1999-2009 Baseball America Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. All rights reserved. | Site Map | Frequently Asked Questions/Site Troubleshooting | Privacy Notice | Return/Refund Policy.

Baseball America, 4319 South Alston Avenue, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713.