What pitcher AJ Russell said of his return to the mound, working out of jam

For the first time in 60 days, Tennessee right-handed pitcher AJ Russell took to the mound for the Volunteers – coming back from an extended injury for the second time this season.

The former Opening Day starter plunked the first batter he faced and gave up a single to follow, but a pair of strikeouts sandwiched around a fielder’s choice out got Russell out of the inning unscathed for a scoreless sixth.

Russell finished with just the one inning of work with two strikeouts, one hit, no runs and one hit batsman on 22 pitches. Here’s what the sophomore had to say about his return to the mound to the media in the postgame press conference. His appearance was one of the few bright spots for Tennessee on a night where it lost 23-4 to its in-state rival, Vanderbilt.

Q. AJ, what have the past couple months been like in terms of setbacks and getting back? And what do you hope to do throughout the rest of the to be able to help the pitching staff?

AJ RUSSELL: I think the last few months have been tough just mentally and all that and getting through it. But the support has been huge just from everybody, friends, guys on the team, the coaches, parents, all that stuff.

It’s been huge to me. I think it’s a big reason why I’ve been back. I think a big thing I’m looking to accomplish is just to help out. We’ve talked a few times, and I’m not coming in to throw six, seven innings, it’s more like one, two innings just to try and get a few outs here and there and get to the next guy.

Q. AJ, what was the difference from your first couple batters you faced to the last couple, getting out of that jam, and how do you feel, and how have you felt the day after those bullpens kind of working yourself back?

AJ RUSSELL: I think the big difference was I could breathe a little bit. The first two batters I think I was pretty anxious coming into it, in general, because I hadn’t been on the mound in a while.

And then once I could breathe, settling down, just realizing that I hit spots and all that kind of thing, trust Cal behind the plate that good things would come from that.

And just post bullpen, it gets better each time I throw. Soreness-wise, all that, each time I throw, it just gets stronger, and I feel better each time.

Feel good right now, and ready to go for whenever is next.

Q. AJ, what has your buildup looked like, and what did you feel like you had working for you tonight?

AJ RUSSELL: I think the buildup mainly has just been throwing as much as possible and just listening to my body as best I can.

I think each day is different for me. Some days I feel really good, especially early. Some days I was like, I don’t even know if I can throw this right now, and it was kind of just — it was kind of day by day. Each time, like I said earlier, each time I throw, it just got better and better.

I think the fastball was good. There was a few here and there that were rough that didn’t really do what they normally do. But for the most part, I think the fastball was the best. And still getting a feel for the off-speed and all that. But I hit spots pretty well and that kind of thing, so I think it was good.

Q. What’s helped you get through this season dealing with the frustrations of not being able to be out there on the mound, and how would you assess your outing? Do you feel like you’re further ahead than maybe you anticipated, or would you have liked to have seen a little bit more? How do you feel in that regard?

AJ RUSSELL: Like I said earlier, I think just the support around the team and all that, the coaches, just knowing that when I’m ready, that’s when I’ll throw.

And we’ve had a lot of talks about that, not rushing back too quickly, not waiting too long, knowing I’ve got to get back out there at some point. So that’s been huge.

Q. Do you feel like you’re about where you expected?

AJ RUSSELL: Yeah, absolutely. I’m super happy with where I’m at right now and how I felt today, and I feel great right now. So I think the post stuff is really what tells me how I’m feeling and that kind of thing.

I’m happy with it, and it went just about how I expected it to go.

Q. Do you think it was a big deal for you to get out of that inning unscathed?

AJ RUSSELL: Yeah, absolutely. Obviously I would have been mad in the moment or that kind of thing, but for the most part, I was mainly just kind of seeing how I was going to feel. I think that was the biggest part for me is runs are going to be given up, hits are going to be given up at some point, it’s just kind of part of it. But I think it was huge for me.

Also, just because it was a little bit of a confidence builder, as well. I think there’s both sides to it.