The Chicago Cubs are out to a surprising start. When they sent down Kris Bryant on Opening Day, many felt they would struggle until he was recalled. Instead, the Cubs have stayed above .500 and are in second place, a mere one and a half games out of first place. They got stronger last week when they called up Grading on the Curve’s No. 1 prospect, Kris Bryant. They get even stronger this week, as the GotC No. 5 prospect, Addison Russell is heading to Chicago.
"“I was just chilling in my hotel room getting ready for bed when Marty called me and told me I was moving up,” Russell told MiLB.com. “I didn’t have his number in my phone, so when I saw that somebody from Atlanta, Georgia was calling me at 10:30 I thought about not answering it. He asked me if I knew who it was and I said no.“Marty’s a great guy and he basically said that this is ‘the call,’ man. After he told me it was him I had a pretty good idea, but I was holding my breath. He said, ‘Congratulations. You’re getting called up.’ Once he told me, I was just surprised and excited.”"
Russell, of course, was the centerpiece in the trade that sent Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland A’s last season. Samardzija is now on the White Sox, Hammel returned to the Cubs this offseason via free agency, and now Russell is about to suit up on the North Side. To say that the Cubs came out huge winners in this deal is an understatement.
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The 21-year old was drafted 11th overall in the first round by the Athletics in 2012 at the age of 18. He instantly became a Top 50 prospect in baseball behind solid contact hitting and defensive wizard at short stop. He has compiled a .301/.377/.520 slash line in his three year minor league career, earning 2013 California League Rookie of the Year honors and an invite to the MLB Futures’ Game along the way. Now, he will reach the pinnacle and help add to the fun turnaround of the Chicago Cubs.
The question wasn’t when will Russell be ready to be called up, because he already was. The question was more along the lines of when will the Cubs give up on Starlin Castro’s questionable defense and trade him to make room for Russell. It appears they found away to use both.
The Cubs converted Russell to a second baseman this season at Iowa. Although it was only a 5-game stint, and a shaky one at that, the Cubs must feel that it was enough.
The Cubs current second base options are in disarray. Tommy La Stella is hurt. Arismendy Alcantara is making the Mendoza Line look respectable batting .077 and Jonathan Herrera is batting a whopping .192. Neither are knocking the socks off the Cubs’ brass with average play at second base. The move to bring Russell up was now.
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New skipper Joe Maddon is arguably the best manager in baseball. What he has shown over the years is that he can get the most out of rosters that had very little Major League talent on them. He can make all stars out of anybody (see James Loney). He now has Russell, Bryant, and Jorge Soler to play with, who are three of the most exciting under-25 players in baseball. Throw in Anthony Rizzo who won’t turn 26 until August, and this is hands down the most exciting young team in baseball. And Maddon is the perfect captain to steer that ship.
Cubs’ fans have something to rejoice about for the first time in a long time. Once Jon Lester and Jason Hammel work out their early season kinks, the Cubs will be a force to be reckoned with… when was the last time someone said that?