May 2, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - Former Ohio baseball player Adam Russell was called up from Triple-A Charlotte to the Chicago White Sox on Friday, making him the 19th Bobcat to suit up for a Major League roster.

As a reliever for Class AAA Charlotte, the 6-foot-8 right-hander has made nine appearances on the hill this season. In 11.0 innings Russell has struck out 11 batters and allowed just four earned runs. He has a 3.27 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .233 average, while posting a 3.27 ERA.

Russell will join the White Sox in Toronto on Friday.

Russell was originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 26th round out of high school, but chose to attend Ohio instead. After playing three seasons with the Bobcats under Head Coach Joe Carbone, Russell was drafted in the sixth round (pick 179 overall) by the White Sox in 2004.

Last season, Russell went 9-11 with a 4.80 ERA in 38 games (20 starts) on the mound with Double-A Birmingham. During the 2006 season he made 27 starts for Class-A Advanced Winston-Salem and Birmingham, combining to go 10-6 with a 3.43 ERA. In 2005 Russell made 24 starts with Class-A Kannapolis going 9-7 with a 3.78 ERA and in his first year as a professional in 2004 he split time at Advanced Rookie Great Falls and Kannapolis.

Russell becomes the second Ohio player in the last two seasons to be called up to an active Major League roster, joining former Bobcat standout Adam Fox, who was called up by the Texas Rangers last season.

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Wes Liles is the baseball contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.