Rangers Take a Big Chance on High-Risk, High-Reward Pitcher with Second-Round Pick

Chris Young is enthusiastic about his SEC pitchers, selecting right-handed pitcher AJ Russell as the 52th overall pick in the second round for the Texas Rangers. Tony Vitello's Tennessee roster .

He accumulated 70 college innings with a 2.70 ERA, striking out 104 batters while issuing just 26 walks. His pitching abilities include a 70-grade fastball that reaches the mid-to-high 90s, a 60-grade slider, and a 40-grade changeup along with 55-grade command. He is expected to possess the best-graded pitch in the organization right away.

The Rangers' newest pitcher has an inconsistent college baseball record The Rangers' latest addition to their pitching staff had a fluctuating college career The Rangers have acquired a new pitcher who experienced mixed success during his time in college The Ranger's newly signed pitcher faced ups and downs throughout his collegiate journey

Russell experienced a peculiar journey during his time at Tennessee. He stood out as a freshman when relieving for one of the strongest pitching squads in recent years. During his second year, he sat out nearly the whole season due to injuries. By 2025, he made a comeback with consistent performance.

On April 1, 2024, the day prior to the Volunteers' flight heading to Omaha, Russell underwent internal bracing surgery. To repair his partially damaged UCL. This enabled him to quickly return to competition this season. He frequently experienced discomfort and minor injuries during his first year due to issues with arm health and training load.

There are two ways to consider this choice. Either for you the The Rangers selected a significant under-the-radar player The Rangers picked up a major hidden gem The Rangers chose an impressive surprise pick The Rangers took a strong unknown talent The Rangers acquired a notable overlooked prospect with significant potential comparable to Zack Wheeler or we simply selected a player with a high risk of injuries who may not reach his full development.

There's plenty to look forward to with Russell's arm. His performance deserves attention to fully appreciate. If he introduces an additional fastball to go along with his exceptional one, or continues improving a third pitch such as his changeup, this selection could become the most thrilling arm in the organization.

Industry experts and insiders favor Russell as a promising player. These are the views worth considering. If Russell remains injury-free, he has a good chance of being selected in the upper half of the first round provided his performance from his rookie season continues over three healthy years.

He can return to college but probably doesn't want to gamble on another season full of injuries. This will Hopefully result in an under-the-table agreement Hopefully lead to a secret contract Hopefuly result in an off-the-record deal Possibly lead to an informal arrangement May result in an unpublicized agreement Could lead to a backdoor pact Might result in an unofficial agreement Potentially lead to a hidden contract Perhaps result in a covert agreement Could bring about an undisclosed deal and let Chris Young be free for the remainder of the draft.

This piece first appeared on nolanwritin.com as The Rangers took a gamble on a high-risk, high-reward pitcher using their second-round draft selection. .