After a short introduction to Double-A with three starts last season, Luke Russo has gotten his 2026 season with the Fightins off to a solid start. Russo faced the Hartford Yard Goats last week and clipped their horns with five innings of one-run work to earn the Phillies prospect the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honor.
Russo gave up just one hit, a double to Cole Mussina, who then stole third and scored on a balk. After giving up the double, Russo retired 11 straight hitters. Other than Mussina’s double, Russo put on a clinic. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five hitters. He needed just 69 pitches to get through five innings and 50 of those pitches — 72-percent — were for strikes.
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Russo is a product of Eastern Michigan University and was taken by the Phillies in the 16th round of the 2023 Draft. He started his professional career the following summer with Clearwater and was moved up to Jersey Shore. Last season, Russo started the year in the bullpen with Jersey Shore and was moved up to Reading where he made three starts before being placed on the IL with a right forearm strain that caused him to miss the rest of the season.
The Pitcher of the Week Honor is the first league honor of Russo’s career.
Last week’s start against the Yard Goats was his first of the season. His combined stats since joining the Phillies have him at 10-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 24 starts and nine relief appearances. Over 144 innings, the 25-year-old has walked 57 and struck out 176 hitters, posting a 1.24 WHIP and a .226 opponents against average.
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