Max Russell

Florida Southern lefthander Max Russell will challenge Kahnle to be the second Sunshine State Conference player picked, after Mocs teammate Daniel Tillman goes first. Russell won 21 games the last two seasons with 223 strikeouts in 200 innings as the Mocs' Friday starter. He has good mound presence and two solid-average pitches in an 88-91 mph fastball and a slider that lacks depth but has cutter action. His best pitch is a curveball that could use more power but that he throws for strikes. He's able to pitch inside effectively, which should play well against wood bats. When he misses, Russell misses over the plate and is susceptible to hard contact. With good size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and the lack of lefthanders nationally, he should go out in the first eight rounds.