Cubs' Russell returns to MLB after domestic violence ban
The Chicago Cubs called up infielder Addison Russell on Wednesday. He started at second base and hit eighth against the Miami Marlins.
Cheers and boos for Addison pic.twitter.com/RVFPX9Mm08
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 9, 2019
Russell was reinstated from the restricted list May 2 and optioned to Triple-A Iowa after serving a 40-game ban for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.
"I've just improved overall. ... I feel like I'm a better person," Russell said before the game, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein acknowledged he expects some negative reactions toward Russell from fans.
"It's something he has to earn," Epstein said on the subject of Russell winning fans over, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
The 25-year-old was suspended after the league investigated a blog post written by his former wife that detailed Russell's abuse of her during their marriage. The punishment was retroactive to his placement on administrative leave in September 2018 while the investigation was ongoing.
The former All-Star slashed .250/.317/.340 with five home runs last season.
The Cubs made several moves ahead of their game against the Marlins, as closer Pedro Strop was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain while left-hander Mike Montgomery was reinstated off the IL. Additionally, utility man Ben Zobrist was put on the restricted list for personal reasons.
Strop is dealing with a Grade 2 strain and there is no timeline for his return, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA and four saves in 2019. Montgomery, meanwhile, has pitched only 2 2/3 innings in relief after going down with a left lat strain in early April.
The Cubs (20-13) are first in the NL Central after winning 17 of their last 22 games following a 3-8 start to the season.