Mason Russell thrives in high-pressure situations. The Arizona prep left-handed pitcher made history by throwing only the second no-hitter ever recorded at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational. Commanding the strike zone with his diverse pitch mix, he racked up 10 strikeouts in front of a host of talent evaluators at the prestigious event in Cary, North Carolina.
“That experience was pretty surreal for me,” Russell said. “Getting the opportunity to go there with the team was important to me, and it helped us come closer as a team. It was one to remember. My stuff was working well that day, and obviously, it showed.”
Scouts took notice of Russell’s performances in big moments throughout his prep career. Russell’s success, potential and pitch mix intrigue major-league teams, causing them to consider the lefty as a potential third-round pick in this year’s MLB draft, which begins Sunday.
“I just take it day by day,” Russell said. “I didn’t really focus on that stuff when I was playing. It was one of the things I tried not to focus on throughout my senior season. I just wanted to have fun, and I think that helped my game. There were some moments when there was pressure. But being in those moments will help me down the road.”
Russell is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed pitcher who throws a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup from a high three-quarters arm slot and athletic, low-effort delivery with some deception.
Russell’s fastball and curveball combination headline his pitch mix. His fastball is a quality offering that touches 95 mph with some riding action. He shows solid command of the pitch. His spike curveball features 12-to-6 shape with high spin rates and generates plenty of swings and misses.
Russell’s slider is a low-80s pitch with plenty of potential to develop into a consistent, above-average strikeout pitch. His changeup flashes potential but needs more polishing as he pitches against better competition.
With additional refinement, Russell boasts intriguing potential as a starting pitcher due to his easy operation and quality four-pitch mix.
“My athleticism and just my ability to slow the game down are big strengths of mine,” Russell said. “I worked on that in the offseason because I knew there would be some high-pressure situations before the season, so I wanted to get better at slowing the game down.”
Throughout his senior season, Russell showed growth in his control and command. As he matures physically, Russell’s athleticism should allow him to continue to make strides with his ability to repeat his delivery and throw strikes at a higher percentage.
“I really want to hone in on my ability to control my pitches to either side of the plate and continue that deceptiveness,” Russell said. “I just want to get guys out, which is an important thing, whether it’s via a strikeout or ground ball. For me, I just want to compete against good talent and improve my game.”
In addition to being a draft prospect, Russell is an Arizona commit. Arizona was the first team Russell talked to during the recruiting process, which the prep pitcher valued, he said. Russell’s brother, Tyler, is an outfielder and also part of Arizona’s recruiting class.
Russell’s relationship with the Arizona coaching staff and his ability to play with his brother at the collegiate level will make that route an intriguing option.
“I got the chance to play with my brother,” Russell said. “Having that opportunity is something I couldn’t pass up on while growing up and playing baseball together, and I wanted to play college baseball with my brother. The great coaching staff at U of A also helped a lot in my decision.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
