James Russell

James Clayton Russell

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of Texas, Navarro Junior College
• High School Colleyville Heritage High School
• Debut April 5, 2010
• Final Game April 19, 2016
• Born January 8, 1986 in Cincinnati, OH USA

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Biographical Information

The son of Jeff Russell, pitcher James Russell made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on opening day, 2010.

Russell was 8-4 with a 3.86 ERA for the University of Texas in 2007 after transferring from junior college. He was then selected by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2007 amateur draft. Russell was signed by scout Trey Forkerway and made his pro debut that summer with the AZL Cubs, throwing two perfect innings in one outing with the club. He was then promoted to the Peoria Chiefs, where he allowed no earned runs and struck out 9 in 7 innings over two starts.

When Russell saved a game in 2012, he became part of the fourth father-son duo to record saves since MLB first kept them as an official stat. He and his father joined Julio Navarro and Jaime Navarro, Pedro Borbon Sr. and Pedro Borbon Jr. and Steve Grilli and Jason Grilli.

On July 31, 2014, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves alongside utility player Emilio Bonifacio in return for minor league catcher Victor Caratini. He was 0-2 with 1 save and a 3.51 ERA in 44 games.

Russell married Nikki Witt, the daughter of Bobby Witt, who had played with Russell's father. He is thus the brother-in-law of Bobby Witt Jr., but also of Zach Neal and Cody Thomas, who married Nikki's two sisters, Kianna and Shaley.

Related Sites

• James Russell on mlb.com