Cubs prospect Addison Russell receiving reps at second base in Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs deemed Javier Baez unfit last month to be their everyday second baseman, optioning him to Triple-A Iowa several days before the start of the regular season.

Though it's not yet clear who will handle second base for Chicago on a regular basis in Baez's absence, the 22-year-old may now share a clubhouse with the prospect who's set to claim the job ostensibly waiting for him in the majors.

Addison Russell, one of baseball's most compelling prospects, has started at second base in each of the last three games for Iowa. Cubs manager Joe Maddon suggested Monday that experimenting with Russell (a natural shortstop) at second base in Triple-A could prepare the 21-year-old for his likely role at the major-league level.

"(We're) being a little bit more pro-active regarding prepping him for a need that might be open here," Maddon told ESPN's Jess Rogers.

Acquired from the Oakland Athletics in July in exchange for Jeff Samardzija, Russell was recently identified as the game's second-best prospect by Baseball Prospectus. Lauded for his well-rounded skill set and plus hitting ability, the former first-round pick hit .302/.355/.529 with 13 homers and 14 doubles over 63 games in Double-A last season despite being roughly four years younger, on average, than his opponents.

Russell, a Florida native, opened the 2015 campaign in Iowa, where he's hit .297/.308/.432 with three extra-base hits across his first nine games. He started six games at shortstop before shifting over to second base this past weekend.

“You think his bat may be ready to play, you have to get him a position to play,” Maddon said. “You could surmise it that Russell might do that (come up to play second) but it’s not a lock. It’s a matter of expanding his infield horizons."