AJ Russell’s return proved pivotal for Tennessee baseball, underscoring its significance in the match against Vanderbilt.

In Hoover, Alabama, AJ Russell experienced a sense of relief he hadn’t felt in a while.

Facing his first batter on Wednesday, the Tennessee baseball pitcher hit them and then surrendered a single. However, a check-swing strikeout helped him regain his composure, dispelling any nervousness stemming from his absence on the mound since March 23.

“It had been a while since I’d been out there,” Russell reflected. “Once I finally felt like I could breathe, it was about settling down, hitting my spots, and all the fundamentals.”

Finding his rhythm involved inducing a groundout and a crucial strikeout with two runners on base and two outs, concluding the sixth inning unscathed. Russell emerged as a shining moment for No. 1 Tennessee (46-11) despite their 13-4 loss to No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (37-20) in the SEC Tournament opener at Hoover Met.

His comeback also provided a sigh of relief for coach Tony Vitello, who welcomed the addition of a valuable arm to the pitching roster.

AJ Russell’s impact on the Tennessee pitching roster

On Wednesday, Russell aimed to gauge his comfort level on the mound in a game situation for the first time since exiting against Ole Miss on March 23 due to arm tightness.

His performance provided a boost of confidence and underscored his potential to bolster the Tennessee pitching lineup during the postseason.

“I see my role as contributing,” Russell remarked. “I’m not coming in to pitch six innings. My aim is to handle one or two innings, aiming to secure outs when needed.”

In a challenging game where the entire pitching staff faced difficulties, Russell was among the two pitchers who delivered a scoreless inning against the Commodores. Tennessee utilized eight pitchers in total, relying on known assets like Nate Snead and Kirby Connell, with Andrew Behnke increasingly in the mix. In case of emergencies, Marcus Phillips and Dylan Loy could be called upon.

Tennessee’s pitching arsenal predominantly relies on seven arms. It includes weekend starters Chris Stamos, Drew Beam, and Zander Sechrist, along with multi-inning threats like Snead and AJ Causey, who often support Sechrist and Stamos, respectively. Connell and Aaron Combs emerge as top bullpen choices.

Russell’s presence as the eighth pitcher adds value regardless of his contribution level. With his track record as a successful reliever during his freshman year, he remains a dependable asset for Tennessee’s pitching dynamics.

“I’m feeling great at the moment,” Russell expressed. “I’m prepared for whatever comes next.”

In the SEC Tournament game against Vanderbilt, Russell delivered a scoreless inning.

Russell grappled with discomfort in his side and arm during the initial month of the season. He experienced absences in late February, returned briefly, then faced another setback in late March.

Gradually, Russell’s condition improved with each bullpen session, progressing to pitching against batters and live hitters over the past few weeks. Though the journey wasn’t always smooth, the Vols took deliberate steps to ease Russell back to a comfortable state.

This progress culminated in Russell’s return on Wednesday for the Vols, who were slated to play against either No. 4 Texas A&M or No. 5 Mississippi State on Thursday. While he felt confident about his fastball, Russell acknowledged the ongoing quest for optimal feel with his offspeed pitches. Coach Vitello viewed the outing as a realistic expectation; Russell is back, albeit not flawless, but Tennessee can work with that.

“I’m extremely satisfied with my current condition,” Russell remarked.

The Vols share his sentiment, as Russell’s return provides them with a sense of relief.