Addison Russell homered for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs once again. This was the sixth time this year he went yard in lower-level baseball. Perhaps, there are many more to come as the former World Champion won’t step on Wrigley Field anytime soon.
A Short-Lived Major League Comeback
After serving his 40 game suspension for domestic violence, he spent a short time in Iowa before being promoted back to the top team in early May. However, Russell struggled as he had 6 home runs and just 16 RBI to his credit by July 24th. The Cubs sent him back down to Triple-A that day and called up Willson Contreras.
It was clear the city grew tired of their shortstop. And therefore, sights weren’t pretty every time the 21-year-old stood at the plate as boos rained down on Wrigley Field.
What If He Stays Down There?
There are few similarities between MLB and Minor League Baseball. If anything, the only thing they have in common is the fact that it’s still pro ball. A long career in the minors doesn’t necessarily make you a bad ballplayer.
Chris Smith played a total of 14 seasons in the minors until retiring in 2017. He pitched for multiple organizations and finished his career with a 58-58 minor league record and a 3.82 ERA. He played just 77 games at Major League level.
Joe Bauman is another prime example of an outstanding career Minor Leaguer. He hit the most homers in a season by any player in history back in 1954. Barry Bonds later broke that record in San Francisco. He didn’t play a single game at MLB level.
If the Florida native stays at Triple-A, there’s a chance he might turn into a great Minor League ballplayer. Many guys don’t even get close to that.
He Better Get Used To It
There’s no way this guy gets back into Major League Baseball. Sure, you could make the argument that guys like Aroldis Chapman and Jeurys Familia deserve the same treatment. However, they’re a necessity for their respective teams. The Cubs already found a replacement for him thanks to Javier Baez.
Addison Russell will stay in the MiLB and might not ever leave. Furthermore, his history is too much of a gamble for any team given his recent troubles. He will most likely stay on the farm.