Freshman pitcher announces return to South Carolina baseball
After a flurry of outgoing transfers the day the portal opened, South Carolina received some good news on Tuesday. Freshman pitcher Zach Russell will be returning to the Gamecocks for another year, he announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Russell is a Charleston, S.C., native who has three years of eligibility remaining. He made 19 appearances out of South Carolina’s bullpen last year, pitching to a 2-1 record, 5.40 ERA and 2.04 WHIP across 16.2 innings of action. Russell struck out 17 batters while walking 12, and he held opposing hitters to a .284 batting average.
Russell is the seventh player to announce his return to South Carolina this offseason. Talmadge LeCroy, KJ Scobey, Beau Hollins, Jake McCoy, Aydin Palmer and Jackson Soucie previously made such announcements public.
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Zach Russell’s Bio from GamecocksOnline
PRIOR TO CAROLINA
- Attended West Ashley High School in Charleston, S.C., where he was an All-State selection in 2023 and 2024
- All-Region (2022, ’23, ’24)
- First Team All-Low Country (2023, ’24)
- Combined to go 11-2 with 124 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA between his junior and senior years
- Hit .338 with 34 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 2023 and 2024
- Ranked the No. 8 overall player and No. 1 shortstop in the state of South Carolina in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game
- Also ranked the No. 1 shortstop by Diamond Prospects
- Participated in the East Coast Pro in 2023
- Played summer baseball for the Diamond Devils, hitting .475 with two home runs, 14 stolen bases, 18 RBI and 18.1 innings of scoreless pitching in 2023
PERSONAL
- Born on December 12, 2005
- Son of Donald and Danielle Russell
- Major is sport and entertainment management
