Addison Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Addison Russell |
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Russell with the Chicago Cubs in 2017
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| Acereros de Monclova – No. 27 | |||
| Second baseman / Shortstop | |||
| Born: January 23, 1994 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 21, 2015, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| KBO: July 28, 2020, for the Kiwoom Heroes | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2019 season) |
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| Batting average | .242 | ||
| Home runs | 60 | ||
| Runs batted in | 253 | ||
| KBO statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Batting average | .269 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 73 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Addison Wayne Russell (born January 23, 1994) is an American professional baseball shortstop. He currently plays for the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League.
Russell was picked 11th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2012 baseball draft. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 2014. In 2015, Baseball America called him the third-best young player in professional baseball. He started playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cubs in April 2015. He became an All-Star in 2016. That same year, Russell helped the Cubs win the World Series. He has also played in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes.
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About Addison Russell's Early Life
Addison Russell was born on January 23, 1994, in Pensacola, Florida. He is the oldest of four children. His mother, Milany Ocampo-Russell, is Filipina. When he was 13, he was adopted by his stepfather, Wayne Russell. He then took the name Addison Wayne Russell.
Addison's Amateur Baseball Career
High School Baseball Achievements
Russell went to Pace High School in Florida. In 2010, he led his high school team to win a state baseball championship. In 2012, they finished as runner-up. Russell played in important games like the 2010 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game. He was also named a First Team All-American in 2011. Baseball America ranked him as a top high school player. In his last high school season, Russell hit for a .368 batting average. He also played high school football as a running back.
In November 2011, Russell decided to play college baseball at Auburn University. He planned to join the Tigers baseball team.
Playing for Team USA
Russell was part of the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2011. His team won a gold medal at the COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American games. In that tournament, Russell hit very well. He had three doubles, a triple, and a home run. He also brought in nine runs for his team. In the championship game against Canada, Russell hit a grand slam. He was named First-Team All Tournament as a Shortstop. He played alongside future pro players like Albert Almora and Alex Bregman.
Addison Russell's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics picked Russell as the 11th overall player in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the A's for $2.625 million instead of going to college. He was the first high school player the A's picked in the first round since 2001.
Russell began his career with the Arizona League Athletics. He hit very well, with six home runs in 26 games. He quickly moved up to other teams like the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Burlington Bees. In his first season, he hit .369 with seven home runs. He was named an All-Star for the Oakland organization.
Before the 2013 season, Baseball America said Russell was the Athletics' best young player. He was also named the best player in the Arizona League. He continued to earn awards, including Rookie of the Year in the California League.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
On July 4, 2014, Russell was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He was part of a trade that included other players. The Cubs sent Russell to the Arizona Fall League again at the end of 2014.
2015: MLB Debut and First Home Run
Baseball America ranked Russell as the #3 young player before the 2015 season. On April 21, Russell was called up to play for the Cubs in MLB. He played second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On May 1, Russell hit his first career home run. It was a game-winning hit against the Milwaukee Brewers. In August, he moved to his usual position at shortstop. He played very well, making only two errors in 52 games.
In the 2015 postseason, Russell had some hits and an RBI. He was slightly injured sliding into third base in one game. This injury kept him out of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). After the season, Russell changed his jersey number to 27.
2016: All-Star and World Series Champion
Russell became the starting shortstop for the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He was hitting .242 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. By September 2016, Russell had 19 home runs and 88 runs batted in. He was great at hitting with the bases loaded, leading MLB with 9 hits in those situations. He also made an amazing catch in a game against the San Francisco Giants. Russell finished the year with 95 RBIs. He was only the second Cubs shortstop to have over 90 RBIs in a season. The first was Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.
Russell hit important two-run home runs in Games 4 and 5 of the NLCS. These hits helped the Cubs break the Curse of the Billy Goat. This led them to their first World Series win in 108 years.
On October 25, 2016, Addison Russell and his teammates Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, and Carl Edwards Jr. made history. They were the first African-Americans to play for the Cubs in a World Series game. Russell and Fowler were the first African-Americans to start for the Cubs in a World Series. This was because it was the Cubs' first World Series since baseball became desegregated. Russell hit the 19th grand slam in World Series history in Game 6. He also tied an MLB record with 6 RBIs in a game where his team faced elimination.
2017: First Walk-Off Home Run
On April 19, 2017, Russell hit his first career walk-off home run. It was a three-run shot against the Milwaukee Brewers. On August 4, Russell was put on the disabled list because of a foot injury. He returned on September 16, 2017, and hit a home run in his first time at bat.
2018-2019: Challenges and New Teams
Russell had a challenging 2018 season. He did not play after September 19 due to an off-field issue that led to a suspension by MLB.
In 2019, Russell was suspended for the first 29 games of the season. After his suspension, he played for the Iowa Cubs. He was called back to Chicago on May 8. He switched from shortstop to second base. Russell hit his first home run of 2019 on May 15. The Cubs later sent Russell to AAA on July 24, 2019. On December 2, 2019, Russell became a free agent.
Playing in South Korea and Mexico
On June 19, 2020, Russell signed with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League in South Korea. He made his debut on July 28, 2020. He finished the season with a .254 batting average. The Heroes did not bring him back for the 2021 season.
On April 1, 2021, Russell signed with the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League. In 66 games, he hit .319 with 8 home runs. In 2022, he played 80 games for Monclova, hitting .348 with 24 home runs.
On December 11, 2022, Russell signed with the Kiwoom Heroes again. He played 59 games in 2023, hitting .286. He was released by the team in July 2023 due to a wrist injury.
On February 16, 2024, Russell signed with the Acereros de Monclova for a second time. In 82 games, he batted .319 with seven home runs.
Addison Russell's Family Life
Addison Russell has a daughter born in May 2015. He also has a son born in August 2015. His third child, a son, was born in October 2018.
See Also
- List of Chicago Cubs first-round draft picks
- List of Major League Baseball players from the Philippines
- List of Major League Baseball players suspended for domestic violence
Images for kids
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Russell with the Chicago Cubs in 2017
