Tony Vitello says AJ Russell has suffered no setbacks, but is in 'recalibrate mode'

Tennessee pitcher AJ Russell made his return from injury on February 25 against North Alabama. He worked a clean 1-2-3 inning and looked great in the process. Since, Russell has not taken the mound for the Vols.

How come?

“It was a deal where AJ’s an abnormal kid and he got ahead of that program quicker than the average guy,” skipper Tony Vitello said on Sunday. “So, I think it’s time for everybody that’s involved to take a deep breath, have a conversation and say, ‘he showed what he can do’. We feel good about the throwing program and the protocol, but let’s take a deep breath and look out for the long run of what we’re trying to do with our season and his career combined.”

When asked if there were any setback suffered, Vitello was firm in his stance.

“Zero. Not even close,” he said. “The opposite. No setbacks.”

Well, that’s good news.

Against the Lions, Russell struck out the side while hitting 97 miles per hour on the radar gun on a couple of occasions. He needed just eight pitches to strikeout the first batter, five to retire the second batter and five more for the third – bringing his inning total to 17 with 11 strikes.

“If you’re talking about, ‘hey we need two outs in order to whatever, throw a big party or everybody here gets a high five or a gold sticker,’ he can go do that right now. I mean he showed it to you the other day,” Vitello reiterated. “But again, I think it’s kind of take a deep breath recalibrate mode and kind of start a new throwing program to prepare more to be a starter as opposed to, he came in the other day and just got three outs.”

So, when can Tennessee fans expect to see Russell back on the mound this season? Not nearly as quick as anyone would like. But again, that’s by design.

“I would think more getting into April as we get into those last two months of the season,” the coach said. “I think looking at those months of April and May. I think that makes more sense with kind of the pow wow that was had. again, just with all parties involved.

“So, if the button needed to be pressed, it could be pressed, but I don’t think that’s the case.”

Russell was limited for the majority of his second year in the program after beginning the 2024 campaign as the club’s Opening Day starter. After some time off, rehab and a couple of returns to the mound following the initial injury, Russell needed Tommy John surgery in June.

Surgery was a success and proved a shorter recovery timeline as the repair was done with an internal brace, putting him on track to be back on the mound for the Orange & White at some point in 2025.

The February 24 season-debut was much earlier than expected, but Russell passed the test with flying colors.

“I’ll be danged if he didn’t speed through that thing too quick because of how dedicated he was,” Vitello concluded. “So again, if you’re talking about hey we need two outs in order to whatever, throw a big party or everybody here gets a high five or a gold sticker, he can go do that right now. I mean he showed it to you the other day.”

The talented 2025 MLB Draft prospect was limited to just 14.1 innings over six appearances with four starts in 2024. He posted an 0-1 record with a 5.02 ERA with 21 strikeouts to eight walks.