It was enough for Eugene manager Paul Kirsch to single out the infielder for praise.
"Russell is playing the hell out of it right now," Kirsch told the Eugene Register Guard after the July 26, 1989 game.
While Russell was hitting well then, he never really hit well any other time. He also never made it to AA, let alone the majors.
Russell entered the Royals system in 1987, taken in the 51st round out of Compton Community College.
Russell's first taste of the minors came at short-season Eugene in 1988. Russell hit .272 for the Emeralds in 46 games. It would be his best batting average in four seasons.
He played five games at single-A Baseball City in 1989, going 1 for 10. The rest of the year, he spent back at Eugene, hitting a not-much-better .185.
As short-season Eugene began the season, Kirsch was high on his returning players, including Russell.
"The guys who were at extended spring should help us with their experience," Kirsch told the Register-Guard.
A couple days before the July 1989 praise from Kirsch, a Russell single led the Emeralds to a 3-1 win against Spokane.
Then came Appleton in the Midwest League for 1990 and a .264 average. Then high-A Baseball City for 1991. A .239 average there and Russell was done.
Originally published June 19, 2010
- Eugene Register-Guard, June 10, 1989: Ems back in the swing of things
- Spokane Spokesman-Review, July 25, 1989: Hard-luck Tribe pitcher Johnson saddled with yet another defeat
- Eugene Register-Guard, July 27, 1989: Ems keep the faith in 12-8 comeback, Part 2
More: The 1990 Appleton Foxes
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