With All-Star Starlin Castro already established at short, the Cubs needed to find a different spot so they could get the 21-year-old infielder in the lineup. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs rookie infielder Addison Russell continues to fit comfortably at second base even though it’s not his natural position.
But with All-Star Starlin Castro already established at short, the Cubs needed to find a different spot so they could get the 21-year-old infielder in the lineup.
“It’s pretty spectacular,” said Cubs manager Joe Maddon prior to Tuesday’s game with the New York Mets. “The other thing you have to understand is not only is he changing positions but he’s changing sides of the field.”
Russell had four errors and has a .949 fielding percentage since his first appearance on April 21.
“When you’re playing on the left side — shortstop — and you go to the right side (to second), the bat angles are entirely different, where you’re supposed to go on different plays is entirely different,” Maddon said.
“The difference is also the double play,” he added. “It’s not as easy as it looks when a guy is coming (at you) and all of a sudden you have to get out of the way. … There are all these little nuances. It’s not that easy and he’s made a nice adjustment.”
Batting in the No. 9 spot, Russell was hitting .250 with two homers and eight RBIs while striking out 30 times through Monday.
He saw a 12-game hitting snapped on Sunday. It was the longest hitting streak by a Cubs rookie since Mike Fontenot in 2007.
Russell went 1-for-4 with a seventh inning double on Tuesday and has now reached base in 15 straight games, all coming in his first 19 major league games.
