Kevin Russo

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Kevin Russo

| image = Kevin_Russo_2009.jpg

| position = Third baseman/Left fielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|7|8}}

| birth_place = West Babylon, New York, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 8

| debutyear = 2010

| debutteam = New York Yankees

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 23

| finalyear = 2010

| finalteam = New York Yankees

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .184

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 4

| teams =

New York Yankees ({{baseball year|2010}})

}}

Kevin Alexander Russo (born July 8, 1984) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees in 2010.

Early years

Russo attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. As a running back on the Fairview High School football team, Russo rushed for 2,416 yards during his senior year, leading the team to a state title.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704226004575262690711672232?mod=rss_newyork_sports|title=An Atypical Yankee: Rookie Russo Hasn't Had to Meet High Expectations|work=Wall Street Journal|first=Scott|last=Cacciola|date=May 24, 2010|accessdate=May 28, 2010}} He and LenDale White were named as the two all-state running backs by the Rocky Mountain News.

He attended San Jacinto College before transferring to Baylor University. At Baylor, he helped the Baylor Bears baseball team reach the 2005 College World Series. In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2005&T=Wareham_Gatemen |title=2005 Wareham Gatemen |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

Russo was drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round (614th overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. In 2007, he was a Mid-Season All-Star with the Tampa Yankees. In 2009, he was named an International League All-Star and a Triple-A All-Star.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Russo Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-russo-501835 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

Following the 2009 season, Russo was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2009 |title=Seven added to 40-man roster {{!}} The LoHud Yankees Blog |url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/11/20/seven-added-to-40-man-roster |access-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124082023/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/11/20/seven-added-to-40-man-roster |archive-date=November 24, 2009 }} He was called up to the major leagues for the first time on May 8, 2010.{{cite news |author=Bryan Hoch |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100508&content_id=9888012¬ebook_id=9888690&vkey=notebook_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy |title=With bench thin, Yankees promote Russo from Triple-A |publisher=Newyork.yankees.mlb.com |date=April 28, 2010 |accessdate=September 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320031859/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100508&content_id=9888012¬ebook_id=9888690&vkey=notebook_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy |url-status=dead }} He recorded his first hit in the Majors on May 21, 2010, in an interleague game against the New York Mets and added the decisive two-run double later in the game to lead the Yankees to a 2–1 win over the Mets.{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2010 |title=Russo gets first MLB RBIs to back Vazquez, Yanks |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/300521121 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203021310/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/300521121 |archive-date=2023-12-03 |access-date= |website=ESPN |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}

The Yankees designated him for assignment on May 6, 2011, to make room for Jess Todd on the 40-man roster.{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2012 |title=Yankees claim RHP Jess Todd, DFA utility man Kevin Russo {{!}} The Lohud Yankees Blog |url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2011/05/06/yankees-claim-rhp-jess-todd-dfa-utility-man-kevin-russo/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402020602/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2011/05/06/yankees-claim-rhp-jess-todd-dfa-utility-man-kevin-russo/ |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }}

=Detroit Tigers=

On November 18, 2012, Russo signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers with an invitation to spring training.{{cite web |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/18/tigers-ink-minor-league-deal-with-kevin-russo/ |title=Tigers ink minor league deal with Kevin Russo |work=NBC Sports |first=Drew |last=Silva |date=November 18, 2012}} Russo spent the 2013 season with the Toledo Mud Hens. He was re-signed for the 2014 season but was released by the end of March.{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2013 |title=Tigers re-sign Kevin Russo to minor-league deal |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/tigers-re-sign-kevin-russo-to-minor-league-deal/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}

=Sugar Land Skeeters=

Russo signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Russo - Baseball Stats - The Baseball Cube |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/58043/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=TheBaseballCube.com |language=en}} He became a free agent after the 2015 season.

Coaching career

After retiring, Russo has served as a coach and instructor for Slammers North.{{cite web |title=SLAMMERS COACHES & INSTRUCTORS |url=https://slammersnorthbaseball.com/slammers-coaches/ |website=slammersnorthbaseball.com |publisher=Slammer Baseball |access-date=20 July 2024}}