Former Tennessee pitcher AJ Russell has officially signed with the Texas Rangers, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Russell was drafted with the 52nd overall pick in the second round by Texas earlier this month.
MLB.com reporter Jim Callis reported on Wednesday that Russell signed for $2.6 million with the Rangers. That makes him set to earn far higher than the No. 52 slot value, which is at $1,846,700.
“(Vol Baseball) RHP, 1st-round talent but had internal brace surgery in June 2024, unicorn fastball up to 98 mph with crazy metrics, sweeping low-80s slider,” Callis posted to X.
2nd-rder A.J. Russell signs w/@Rangers for $2.6 million (slot 52 value = $1,846,700. @Vol_Baseball RHP, 1st-rd talent but had internal brace surgery in June 2024, unicorn fastball up to 98 mph with crazy metrics, sweeping low-80s slider. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/xjb4RnDgQP
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 23, 2025
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Returning from Tommy John surgery in the 2025 season, Russell posted a 3.55 ERA in 12 appearances (25.1 innings) for the Volunteers. He started six games over the season with a 2-1 record. The 6-foot-6 righty struck out 36 batters while only surrendering 23 hits and 10 earned runs on the season.
“Freshman year, he’s on a staff with (Seth) Halvorsen, (Chase) Burns, (Drew) Beam, (Chase) Dollander, and he fit in,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said on MLB Network’s draft night coverage. “He was the type of guy we thought was getting squeezed out of innings because that staff was so talented. Kind of runs into an injury after exploding onto the scene as a prospect and a potential Top 10 pick in this draft, but got his feet underneath him, started to pitch there a little bit at the end of the year, and showed scouts enough of what he can potentially do.”
Russell will reunite with a former Tennessee teammate in the Rangers organization as both look to make it up to the majors. Texas selected outfielder Dylan Dreiling, a key piece in Tennessee’s College World Series championship, with the 65th pick in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Dreiling is currently playing with the Hub City Spartanburgers in High-A ball. He’s got a .217 batting average, 59 hits, and eight home runs in 272 plate appearances this season.
Tennessee had nine players drafted in the MLB Draft earlier this month in Atlanta. Russell is the seventh Tennessee player to officially sign a contract, following Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen, Marcus Phillips, Tanner Franklin, Nate Snead, and undrafted prospect Hunter Ensley.
For more on Tennessee’s signed players from the MLB Draft, click here.
