Russell ready to unleash power
MARYVALE, Ariz. — It took Cubs manager Joe Maddon one word to sum upwhat he has learned about Addison Russell since this time last year:
“Power,” he said. “I didn’t know he had the kind of power. You saw it last year during the season, and I’m watching him in batting practice right now. He’s really strong.”
The Cubs’ starting shortstop finished with 13 home runs after breaking into the majors as a second baseman last year.
He had seven home runs in the final two months after he incorporated a leg kick with hitting coach John Mallee and got more comfortable facing big-league pitching.
“I always knew I had a little bit of power,” said Russell, whose career high in the minors was 17 homers. “It’s just last year getting adjusted to the league, it’s really hard to do. It was really hard to tap into some of that power because I’m trying to track the ball.
“This year, with just under a year under my belt, I’m seeing the ball a lot better and just doingmy natural reaction. There’s really no timidness in my swing right now.
“I’m just grippin’ and rippin’ right now, and it feels good.”
Russell hit ninth in the batting order most of last season as the Cubs tried to reduce pressure on him while also viewing him as a second leadoff man, feeding into the top of the order.
If an increase in power production comes this year, it could change how he fits into the lineup, not to mention make pitchers respect him more.
And it wouldn’t take much of a jump in production to put him among the top power shortstops in the game. Only four shortstops in the National League hit more home runs than Russell last year, with the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford leading the league with 21.
The Houston Astros’ Carlos Cor- rea led all shortstops with 22.
Russell said he didn’t do anything in the offseason specifically to increase his power. But his teammates have noticed a difference in camp.
“The ball’s poppin’,” slugger Kyle Schwarber said. “I think there’s more there [than last season]. He’s made a couple adjustments. He’s getting separation. He’s driving the ball.
“It’ll be interesting to see how his transformation goes through the spring, but right now it looks really good.”
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