James Russell Stats & Scouting Report

Full name James Clayton Russell
Born 01/08/1986 in Cincinnati, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Texas
Debut 04/05/2010
Drafted in the 14th round (427th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 (signed for $350,000).

View Draft Report

Lefthander James Russell, whose father Jeff was an all-star closer, has a long, lean 6-foot-4, 206-pound frame, but his game is all about finesse and not power. His best pitch is his changeup, followed by a fringy 84-88 mph fastball and a marginal breaking ball.

Top Rankings

Russell turned down the Mariners as a 37th-round pick out of high school and again as a 17th-rounder after his first season at Navarro (Texas) JC, and there was no guarantee he'd sign with the Cubs as a 14throunder. But he saw his velocity increase over the summer, and Chicago anted up $350,000 to get him to turn pro. During the spring at Texas, Russell stood out with his changeup but his other two pitches, an 84-88 mph fastball and a marginal breaking ball, didn't excite scouts. After the Longhorns' season ended, Russell worked with independent pitching coach Tom House to shape up his curveball before heading to the Texas Collegiate League. In the TCL, his fastball jumped to 88-92 mph and his curve was more usable. Russell's changeup is the best in the system and helps his other pitches play up. He throws strikes on a good downhill plane, and he has the know-how befitting the son of a former big leaguer, all-star closer Jeff Russell. James should team up with the other pitching sleeper of the Cubs' 2007 draft, Ryan Acosta, in low Class A this year.