Ashe
Russell

5/2/15 GAME NOTES: Ashe Russell brought another dozen pro scouts to watch him pitch this Saturday vs Jasper HS.  On 3 days rest, Ashe started on a pitch count.  Despite that, radar guns had him top out at 97mph.  For 4IP, he sat 92-94, touching 95 several times.  His breaking ball was 82-85.  Change-up sat 83-85.  His command was impressive with all 3 pitches in any count.  The slider got some bad swings throughout his start.  His FB was up towards end of outing which resulted in a few runs by Jasper.   

4/18/15 GAME NOTES: Russel, a Texas A&M recruit and projected high round draft this June, is a physically strong and mature pitcher. In his first outing this spring he pitched five innings while striking out eight, allowing three hits and four walks. His first pitch of the day was 93 mph and was witnessed by a scout or cross checker from every MLB team. He sat 90-93 mph for the five innings showing a smooth ¾ arm delivery and quick arm speed. His slider was 82-84 mph with hard, late break.

6/26/14 - Russell has an ideal frame at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, with lean limbs. He has an up tempo delivery with some effort and electric stuff. He sat 91-93 mph for four innings, touching 94-95 in the third inning. His arm gets deep in the back, which can get him out of sync and late out front, causing him to miss to his arm side with his fastball and not finish his breaking ball. When he is in sync, his fastball has good life to the arm side with heaviness down in the zone. His breaking ball is sharp, sitting 79-81 with power and depth. He mixed in one changeup at 81. Russell didn’t allow a hit in his four innings of work, allowing just one base runner while striking out five.

Notre Dame recruit. Highly projectable, athletic 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame, prototypical pitcher’s build with plenty of room for continued physical development. Has potential to become top-round draft prospect in 2015 class. In his first extended outing of the spring, the pitching conditions were, in a word, miserable. Literally pitching straight into 35-mph winds, temperatures in the high-30s. Which made what he did in the first inning that much more impressive. Fastball sat 88-90, touching 92 once, with occasional sharp arm-side sink. Velocity dropped a few ticks in each of his five-inning stint. In the fifth, fastball ranged between 84-87. Works from three-quarter slot; when his slot drops, fastball had tendency to flatten out. But, when slot and delivery are in synch, fastball had hard, late sink. Slider has potential to be plus pitch at next level; can be true swing-and-miss pitch. Slider ranged between 78-79 (has been up to 84 in warmer temperatures). Throws pitch for consistent strikes, and has ability to start it in on right-handed hitters. Did not show changeup in outing.

Summer 2013: Russell continues to improve on the mound.  Up to 92 in the State Championship Game in June, and up to 93 at Area Code in Chicago. 

Summer 2012: Ashe is one of the most advanced arms in the state, throwing for powerhouse Cathedral HS. Russell shows a clean repeatable delivery with a quick arm. He was up to to 90 this summer. Consistently, 85-88. He has a good breaking ball and average change. Both show potential to be plus pitches in the future.