Cubs' Addison Russell on MLB debut: 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous'
The Chicago Cubs are set to unleash another one of baseball's top prospects on the major leagues.
Shortstop Addison Russell received the call up from Triple-A Iowa late Monday, though he almost didn't answer it.
"I was just chilling in my hotel room getting ready for bed when (Iowa manager) Marty (Pevey) called me and told me I was moving up," Russell told Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com. "I didn't have his number in my phone, so when I saw that somebody from Atlanta, Georgia was calling me at 10:30 I thought about not answering it. He asked me if I knew who it was and I said no.
"Marty's a great guy and he basically said that this is 'the call,' man. After he told me it was him I had a pretty good idea, but I was holding my breath. He said, 'Congratulations. You're getting called up.' Once he told me, I was just surprised and excited."
Russell will make his major-league debut Tuesday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh when the Cubs resume their four-game set with the Pirates.
He'll start at second base and bat ninth in manager Joe Maddon's lineup.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but it's a good nervous," Russell told reporters. "I'm pretty anxious. I'm excited to get out there and see what it feels like on a big-league ballpark with big-league players."
Maddon said the career 301/.377/.520 minor-league hitter is absolutely deserving of the promotion, which comes days after the Cubs called up power-hitting third baseman Kris Bryant - considered by many to be the top prospect in baseball.
"It may appear premature to some, but it's only done because you think he can deal with it," Maddon said prior to the game.
Ranked as the third-best prospect by Baseball America, the 21-year-old Russell becomes the youngest player in the National League.
"I never expected to feel like this," Russell said. "It is a dream come true, but the hard work doesn't stop here, it only gets harder. I'm going to continue my strong work ethic and perfect my craft and help the Cubs win a lot of games."
Acquired from the Oakland Athletics last July in the Jeff Samardzija trade, Russell hit .318/.326/.477 with one home run and nine RBIs in 11 games at Triple-A this season.
The team optioned Arismendy Alcantara to Triple-A in order to make room for Russell.