April 12--Addison Russell is batting only .160 with a team-high nine strikeouts.
But like a protective father, manager Joe Maddon reminded reporters Monday night that Russell is 22 and will continue his ascent with special moments like his three-run home run that vaulted the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds before an energized sellout crowd at Wrigley Field.
"He's going to keep getting better," Maddon said. "A lot of our guys, they're major league players. They're going to be critiqued very highly. But understand, he's going to keep getting better. Just wait to see what he looks like when he's 25."
Russell hit six home runs in spring training and is showing more of a willingness to take his walks, as was evidenced by his leadoff walk to start the fifth inning while left-hander Brandon Finnegan was in the midst of a no-hit bid.
"To be able to take a walk, to power a ball to the left field stands in the bottom of the eighth inning, down by a couple of runs and put you on top, he's going to do all that," Maddon said. "He's going to keep getting better. His whole game is going to keep improving because he's strong and cares and works very hard. Just appreciate the fact he's only 22 and what he's doing right now."
Left-hander Jon Lester has a greater appreciation for how far the organization has come since he arrived prior to the 2015 season, primarily because of the ascent of youngsters like third baseman Kris Bryant and Russell.
"Coming off the 2014 season (with a 73-89 record), it wasn't too good and I was just really trying to hear and listen and believe in the upside of all these guys who had never played in the big leagues," Lester said. I believe Theo (Epstein), Jed (Hoyer) and Jason (McLeod) and these guys that drafted these young guys who came up like Addi and Kris and trade for (Anthony) Rizzo. You try to believe in those promises.
"And to get where we were last year, to get to 97 wins, I think kind of panicked Theo a little bit. I don't think he expected that. But to give those guys a winning season and get to the playoffs and get that experience and get that under their belt has only relaxed these guys a little bit and allowed them to just go out and play baseball.
"They know how to deal with the expectations now. It's about going out and performing and having a game plan and trying to execute that, and these guys have done a really good job of that. (Jason) Heyward and (Ben) Zobrist on the field with them has only made them better."
