Russell still hasn’t heard from MLB
PITTSBURGH — More than a week after his personal life became a highly charged public story because of social- media posts, shortstop Addison Russell is no closer to knowing what the resolution might be.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Russell said of MLB’s investigation into an Instagram post by a friend of his wife’s that alleged domestic violence.
Russell said he hasn’t been contacted by MLB.
“As far as I know, I haven’t heard anything, and that’s where I’m going to leave it,” said Russell, who spent a “mental” day at home, at the team’s request, when news of the allegation spread.
Russell, who has slumped for much of 2017 after an All- Star season last year, had a rough game in his return to the field June 10.
But since then, he seems to have found his comfort zone.
With a single in the first inning and a solo homer in the seventh Saturday, Russell is 6- for- 21 (. 286) since that rough return with three homers and four walks. Included in the stretch is a two- out, two- run double in the game- winning rally in the ninth Friday.
“The body feels good; the mind feels good,” he said. “I feel like I’m heading in the right direction as far as where the season is going, trying to finish up this first half and then take it easy at the All- Star break. I’m just trying to finish off this first half as strong as I can.”
Russell dismissed any notion that being at the ballpark provides a place of even greater comfort or normalcy since the allegations.
“This is my job. I love playing baseball,” he said. “I come to the field every single day and feel blessed to be able to come here and see these guys and play with these guys. I look forward each day just to coming to the clubhouse and playing ball.”
MLB is expected to publicize its conclusion when it’s reached.
Hendricks out through break?
After a second MRI exam of his injured hand, Kyle Hendricks is confident that the pain will be gone soon.
He doesn’t expect it to be a recurring problem, and he won’t try to predict a timeline for his return anymore. Hendricks acknowledged that could mean he might miss his goal of pitching before the July 10- 13 All- Star break.
“I was trying to do that beforehand, and now I’ve just tried to let it happen,” said Hendricks, whose strained tendon in the back of his right middle finger makes even gripping a baseball uncomfortable. “I just kind of need to stay calm about it and just let the pain get out of there first. Then as soon as that’s out of there, I feel like I can get optimistic and start planning out my throwing.”