The Student Newspaper checks in With Kyle Russel and the reason why he choose to come back for his Junior year. It also compare Bradley Suttle deal with the New York Yankees to Kyle Russell’s deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The handshakes just didn’t feel right.
That’s the reason Texas outfielder Kyle Russell gave when explaining his decision to stay with the Longhorns and not leave for the minor leagues after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
But Bradley Suttle, who was taken seven spots after Russell, decided a month before he signed with the New York Yankees that his time in burnt orange had expired.
“You know basically when you get drafted by the New York Yankees that there’s a good chance you’re not going to come back because they’re going to offer you a great amount of money,” Russell said. “It was in everybody’s head that he’s going to go off and start his career in baseball. We figured that.”
The difference: Suttle’s deal was all but done from the start, but Russell didn’t get the same vibe from the Cardinals’
representatives.
“All the puzzle pieces didn’t quite fit together,” Russell said.
The Cardinals aren’t the Yankees, to be sure, but Russell said there isn’t a team he wouldn’t play for. He wants to play for an MLB club, but he just didn’t feel comfortable enough to book a one-way flight to St. Louis.
Russell relied on his intuition and the body language of Major League reps to make potentially a $1 million decision.
That’s pressure. And it wasn’t Russell’s family or legal counsel or a “family friend.” It was the 21-year-old negotiating his own future.
He stayed strong and relied on his gut. Many young players in his place would have left, though, especially after hitting 28 home runs last year to lead the NCAA.
On paper, his decision to stay was stupid. Russell just had a season that ensured him high-draft status, so staying might’ve cost him a lower draft postion. That equals less money and a longer road to the Majors.
The second part of that statement is what makes this situation so surprising. If Russell doesn’t produce this year, he may end up in a much lower round and run the risk of never making it past double-A.
In the end, though, that thought is what kept Russell at Texas.
Russell got an offer to play in the Cardinals’ farm system, while his ex-teammate got an invitation to play for the Yankees.
Russell’s just waiting to get the Bradley Suttle treatment.
Photo Provided by Donald J Boyles.
Article by the Daily Texan
Russell will regret his decision not to go pro last year.
You are basing this on What??
I will agree with this…I have heard through some of my sources that Russell has some MAJOR holes in his swing that is why he has struggled so much with Wood.
I am no baseball expert, Mr. DJB, and I am certainly not trying to steal any of Brian’s thunder, but according to 2 different TCL coaches last season, Russell has a ton of work to do, if he want’s to thrive at the next level.
This same coach told me, that, in his opinion, both Moldenhaur (sp?) and Preston Clark will turn out to be better pros.
Here is draft scouting report on him.
LINK
All of the fans in Cardinals nation should not like this kid anymore. I was kinda perplexed when I heard that the Cards didnt get him signed, but know I hope he falls flat on his face. Does that make me a bad person?
CardFan,
No this does not make you a bad person. It happens with any organization when things do not work out for one reason or another.
His freshman year had major holes in his swings. His sophomore year those holes began to dwindle. This year will he have the power numbers that he had last year most likely not. He needs to work the count more and to watch his strike outs.