Mason Russell

School: Casteel HS, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Commit/Drafted: Arizona
Age At Draft: 18.3
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45.

Russell is one of the top prospects in the Four Corners region of the country for the 2024 class and combines a solid pitching frame, clean delivery and impressive feel to spin the baseball into one appealing projection starter package. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Russell added some impressive strength and definition to his body over the offseason and had an up-and-down spring that included a standout no-hit performance at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational. In other outings, his stuff ticked down and he got hit around. He’s a solid mover on the mound who throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and will pitch in the low 90s early in outings before dipping into the upper 80s as his starts progress. He mixes in two breaking pitches, including a low-80s slider and mid-to-upper-70s curveball, both of which have high spin rates and above-average potential. He also has a mid-80s changeup that is a distant fourth offering for now. Like his velocity, Russell’s command will come and go, and he tends to be scattered overall, which leads to fairly wide ranges of opinions from the scouting community. He’s an Arizona commit who could benefit by adding more polish and track record in college but is viewed by many as a top-five rounds talent.