Fil-Am Cub major cog in Chicago’s title quest
Filipino American All-Star short stop Addison Russell is one of the young guns the Chicago Cubs hope will deliver as they slug it out with the Cleveland Indians in the opener of the World Series in Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Manila).
The Cubs are in their first World Series since 1945 and the team, fueled by young players, is raring to topple the Indians in their best-of-seven series and nail their first crown in 108 years.
The 22- year- old Russell, whose mother Milany is a Filipina, helped the Cubs rout the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to clinch a ticket to the World Series.
Russell, whose wife Melisa is a Fil-Am, struggled in Games 1, 2 and 3 in the NLCS, going without a hit despite a remarkable season. He also starred in Game 6 when he added a run in the second inning with a double to deep left and scored on a twoout single by Dexter Fowler.
Russell broke out of a slump in Game 4 with a three-hit performance that included a big two-run homer. He continued his streak in Game 5 by whacking a two-run shot that gave the Cubs the lead they never relinquished.
Russell posted an outstanding record of .240 batting average or 34 homeruns, and 149 RBI (runs-batted-in) from 2015 and 2016.
Russell, then 18, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2012 draft. Since the draft, Russell has had a great deal of success, posting above average numbers for two straight seasons.
After an inaugural professional season of seven home runs and 45 RBI’s to go along with a .369 batting average, in just 55 games played, Russell had a 2013 season nearly as good. Despite a poor start to the year, Russell turned things around to finish out the season with a batting average of .269, to go along with 17 home runs and 60 RBI’s.
Russell was selected to participate in the 2013 Futures Game up in New York City, making the 2013 season one to remember.
On July 4, 2014, Russell, along with pitcher Dan Straily, outfielder Billy McKinney and a player to be named later, was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Jason Hammel and pitcher Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs sent Russell to the Cubs Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the second time at the end of the 2014 minor league season.
Russell has two sisters, who are now 20 and 15 and a brother 12. “I kind of wanted to set that example, that education is very important, you know, but the Oakland A’s offered me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I had to take it.” When he was drafted by Oakland Athletics, his salary was $527,000.
His advice to the young: “Don’t let people tell you what you can’t do. Work hard everyday. Keep goals, keep achieving them, and strive to be the best you that you can be,” he said.