• Full name Russell Lee Smith
  • Born 09/10/1998 in Midlothian, TX
  • Profile Ht.: 6'7" / Wt.: 255 / Bats: L / Throws: L
  • School Texas Christian
  • Drafted in the 2nd round (51st overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 (signed for $1,000,000).
    View Draft Report
    A 38th-round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2017, Russell Smith is not what you might think. Watch a massive (6-foot-9, 235 pounds) long-levered lefty and you would expect big stuff and little idea of where it’s going. With such a massive frame it would understandably take quite a while for Smith to grow into his delivery. But that’s not him. Smith doesn’t have big stuff—he can touch 94-95 mph but he will generally pitch at 90-92. But he has a very smooth, repeatable delivery with solid body control. And Smith’s fastball plays well up in the strike zone with good vertical movement. It sets up his above-average 82-85 mph changeup which he commands extremely well. Smith throws his changeup almost always down and away to righthanded hitters and he rarely misses his spot. It’s a quality creator of ground balls, but it’s good enough to get some swings and misses as well. His average slider is somewhat sweepy, but he will bury it with two strikes. Smith missed the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he’s otherwise been reasonably durable. Smith seems more likely to be a relatively low-ceiling draft pick, but one who also has a very good chance to be a big leaguer. Whether that role is as a big lefty middle reliever or a back-of-the-rotation starter, his ability to consistently throw three pitches for strikes and attack four quadrants of the strike zone make him a valuable pro prospect.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Draft Prospects

Scouting Reports

Career Transactions

  • Biloxi Shuckers activated LHP Russell Smith from the 7-day injured list.
  • Biloxi Shuckers placed LHP Russell Smith on the 7-day injured list.
  • LHP Russell Smith assigned to Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Biloxi Shuckers activated LHP Russell Smith from the 7-day injured list.
  • Biloxi Shuckers placed LHP Russell Smith on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 23, 2023.
  • LHP Russell Smith assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
  • Biloxi Shuckers activated LHP Russell Smith.
  • LHP Russell Smith assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
  • LHP Russell Smith and assigned to Milwaukee Brewers.

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