Adam Russell

Adam William Russell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 8", Weight 250 lb.
• School Ohio University
• High School North Olmsted High School
• Debut June 17, 2008
• Final Game July 17, 2011
• Born April 14, 1983 in North Olmsted, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Adam Russell played 11 seasons in professional baseball, including 4 in the major leagues.

In high school, Adam was 19-5 with a 2.10 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 20 walks. Russell was picked by the Florida Marlins in the 26th round of the 2001 amateur draft but opted for college. The tall right-hander was 4-5 with a 6.79 ERA for Ohio in 2003 and had a 1-3, 4.50 record in 2004. Despite his unimpressive college career (6-11 6.28), he was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2004 amateur draft and signed by Larry Grefer and Nathan Durst.

He made his pro debut that summer with the Great Falls White Sox and was 4-0 with a 2.37 ERA in 15 games there before being promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators, for whom he started two games, losing both with a ERA of 9.00. The next year, he was back with the Intimidators and posted a 9-7 record and a 3.78 ERA in 24 starts for them.

He began 2006 with the Winston-Salem Warthogs and went 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 starts there before being promoted to the AA Birmingham Barons in July. With the Barons, he was 3-3 with a 4.75 ERA in 10 starts. Had he qualified, he would have been third in the Carolina League in ERA. He spent the fall with the Scottsdale Scorpions, going 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA. Baseball America rated him as the #7 White Sox prospect and as possessing the best fastball in their minor league system.

Russell spent 2007 with Birmingham, starting the year in the rotation before moving to the bullpen in July. Overall, he was 9-11 with a 4.80 ERA and 1 save in 38 games. Baseball America ranked him as Chicago's 9th-best prospect.

He started the 2008 season with the Charlotte Knights and was 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA there before being called up by the White Sox in early May when Alexei Ramirez was unable to accompany the team on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays due to visa issues. Russell did not pitch in the series and returned to the minors. After a total of 21 games with Charlotte, he was 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 20 hits allowed in 31 innings. He was then called back to Chicago when Esteban Loaiza went on the disabled list.

In his MLB debut on June 17th, Russell threw one scoreless inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He relieved Nick Masset with a 16-5 lead to open the 9th. He got Jason Michaels on a fly ball, Doug Mientkiewicz on a grounder and struck out Jose Bautista to end the 1-2-3 frame. Overall, he pitched 22 times for the White Sox that first season, all in relief, going 4-0, 5.19.

Sources include

• 2008 White Sox Media Guide
• 2005-2008 Baseball Almanacs
• The Baseball Cube

Related Sites

• Adam Russell on mlb.com