Eastern Michigan Athletics
Luke Russo Drafted by Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 MLB Draft
7/11/2023 4:44:00 PM | Baseball
Russo is EMU's 79th MLB draft pick after being selected in the 16th round, 493rd overall
EMU in MLB | Russo Video Highlights.
SEATTLE, Wash. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University pitcher Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 16th round (493rd overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft today, July 11.
The selection of Russo continues the MLB standard of EMU baseball, as the Eagles now have 79 baseball student-athletes selected in the major league draft, dating back to 1969 when the Detroit Tigers selected Richard Krumm in the 19th round, marking Eastern's first MLB draft pick.
Since 1969, Eastern Michigan has had 21 baseball student-athletes taken in the top 10 rounds of the draft, while 13 have gone top five, and a select four were taken in the first round.
A local product out of Howell, Mich., Russo joined the team prior to the 2020 season. In his time with EMU, Russo was consistently regarded as one of the top hurlers in the conference. In his 110.1 career innings pitched (33 appearances, 14 starts), Russo allowed just 57 earned runs off 86 hits, while striking out 147 opposing batters and issuing only 47 walks in his EMU career, with a career win-loss record of 10-5.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander served as the team's ace in the 2023 season, posting a 6-4 win-loss record along with a 4.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, allowing 66 hits, 40 earned runs, 20 extra-base hits, while holding opposing batters to a .223 average. Russo also led the MAC in 2023 with 107 strikeouts (tied for third most in a single season in program history), and walked just 25 batters.
Academically, Russo was just as good, as he was named to the Academic All-MAC team in both the 2023 and 2022 seasons. Furthermore, Russo was most recently named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week this past season, April 12. The Howell, Mich. native also captured the weekly award in the 2022 season, announced on April 19.
E-Club Hall of Fame member Bob Owchinko (1973-76) sits atop the list of EMU baseball draftees as he was selected in the first round, fifth overall in the 1976 draft by the San Diego Padres.Owchinko went on to have a four-year tenure with the Padres, before making stops with the then Cleveland Indians, now Guardians, along with the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos. All said and done, Owchinko had a nine-year MLB career and posted a 4.28 career ERA, 490 strikeouts, a 2.0 WAR, and 1.460 WHIP in 890.2 innings of work.
Currently, EMU has a strong presence in the minor leagues as four one-time Eagles are currently working their way through the ranks of their respective organizations. Eastern's most recent draftee prior to this year's MLB Draft, Cameron Wagoner (2020-21) pitches for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the high-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Former Eagle slugger Max Schuemann (2016-18) is active with the Las Vegas Aviators, the triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The Portage, Mich., native received the phone call of a lifetime when he was promoted to the show back on March 22, 2022.
Sam Delaplane (2014-17) also joins the list of former Eagles at the next level, he is currently pitching for the Eugene Emeralds, the San Francisco Giants' high-A team. Delaplane previously had a stint with the Seattle Mariners organization, where he was called up to the big leagues, March 25, 2018, for a short stint with the three time American League West Division Champions.
Justin Meis (2019-21) is in the starting rotation for the Altoona Curve, the double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After being signed by the Pirates in July of 2021, Meis started out on the FCL Pirates Gold, one of Pittsburgh's two rookie ball teams, before being called up to the low-A team roughly three weeks later. The Bethel Park, Pa., native has since been promoted twice to his current role with the Curve.
With the hiring of new Head Coach Robbie Britt, the Eagles are poised to have a big offseason and return to the diamond in the spring of 2024 to build upon their 27-win season in the 2023 campaign.
For the latest on EMU athletics and EMU baseball, stay tuned to EMUEagles.com and follow @EMU_Baseball and @EMUAthletics on Twitter.
Former EMU draftees who are currently active:
| Year | Name | Round | Overall | Team |
| 2022 | Cameron Wagoner | 11 | 342 | Milwaukee Brewers |
| 2021 | Justin Meis | 10 | 283 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2018 | Max Schuemann | 20 | 593 | Oakland Athletics |
| 2017 | Sam Delaplane | 23 | 693 | Seattle Mariners |
