May 8, 2010

WACO, Texas - Former Baylor baseball player Kevin Russo was called up to the major leagues by the New York Yankees on Saturday morning.

The second baseman will join the Yankees as they resume their series in Boston against the Red Sox at 2:10 p.m. CDT Saturday.

"We are all thrilled and excited for Kevin, to see his perseverance and determination rewarded," said Baylor head coach Steve Smith, who coached Russo during his two seasons at Baylor in 2005 and 2006.

When Russo appears in a game, he'll become the 39th former Baylor player to see action in the major leagues. He can become the first former Bear to play for the Yankees since Jack Little, who played his only three major league games in 1912 with the franchise that was then known as the Highlanders.

At the time of his call to the majors, Russo was hitting .302 with six doubles, two triples, one home run 11 RBI and 16 runs scored for the Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Russo had hit safely in his last nine games before getting the call.

Russo joined Baylor in 2005 after playing two seasons for San Jacinto Junior College. After two seasons with the Bears, including a trip to Omaha in 2005, he was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB Draft.