AJ Russell is back and Tennessee baseball found out how important that is vs. Vanderbilt
HOOVER, Ala. — AJ Russell finally felt like he could breathe.
The Tennessee baseball pitcher hit the first batter he saw Wednesday then gave up a single. A check-swing strikeout put the air back in his lungs, releasing any anxiety from pitching in a game for the first time since March 23.
“I hadn’t been out there in a while,” Russell said. "Then just once I could breathe, (it was) settling down and hitting my spots and all those things.”
Settling down looked like getting a groundout and a clutch strikeout with two on and two out to end the sixth inning unscathed. Russell was the bright spot for No. 1 Tennessee (46-11) in its 13-4 loss to No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (37-20) to open the SEC Tournament at Hoover Met.
His return also gave coach Tony Vitello a reason to breathe as the pitching staff gained a key arm.
How AJ Russell affects the Tennessee pitching staff
Russell’s goal Wednesday was to see how he felt being on the mound in game for the first time since he exited against Ole Miss on March 23 with tightness in his arm.
He got a confidence boost from the outing as well and proved he can be a lift for the Tennessee pitching staff in the postseason.
“I think a big thing I am looking to accomplish is to help out,” Russell said. “I am not coming in to throw six innings. I am coming in to throw one inning, two innings — try to get a few outs here and there.”
Russell was one of two pitchers to throw a scoreless inning against the Commodores in a rough outing for a whole staff game. UT threw eight pitchers with two known commodities in Nate Snead and Kirby Connell. Andrew Behnke has been used more of late. It could call on Marcus Phillips and Dylan Loy in an emergency.
But Tennessee’s staff leans heavily into seven arms. It has weekend starters Chris Stamos, Drew Beam and Zander Sechrist. Snead and AJ Causey are multi-inning threats that piggyback Sechrist and Stamos, respectively. Connell and Aaron Combs are the top two bullpen options.
Russell makes eight no matter what he can give. He’s a proven arm who excelled as a reliever as a freshman and can do it now for Tennessee.
“I feel good right now,” Russell said. “I am ready to go whenever is next.”
AJ Russell threw a scoreless inning against Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament
Russell battled soreness in his side and arm during the season’s first month. He missed time in late February, returned, then was sidelined again in late March.
He has felt better and better with each bullpen leading to him throwing to batters then live hitters in the past couple weeks. It hasn't always felt good, but the Vols worked to slowly progress Russell to a comfortable place at a kind pace.
That led to Wednesday when Russell got back in for the Vols, who face No. 4 Texas A&M on Thursday (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network). He felt good about his fastball but is still chasing good feel on his offspeed pitches. Vitello felt the outing was what should be expected. Russell is back, but not perfect. Tennessee can work with that, though.
“I am super happy with where I’m at right now,” Russell said.
So are the Vols, who can breathe better with Russell back.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: AJ Russell makes return for Tennessee baseball at good time
