Matthew Russo is Southern Miss’s middle-order bulldozer — plus a steady glove at the dirt
In the 2026 season, Russo played and started all 61 games at first base for Southern Miss, hit .318 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and a team-high 56 RBI, and finished hot by batting .397 over his final 20 games. He’s more than the box score: a left-handed hitter with power, he draws contact the hard way too — he was hit by 24 pitches in 2026, showing he crowds the zone and refuses to back off. Add in first-team All-Sun Belt honors and strong community impact recognition, and you get a rugged, reliable run producer who fits best as a tough, high-motor lineup anchor.
