Chicago Cubs: The latest on the Addison Russell situation

Jake Misener

Apr 23, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell hits an RBI single against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 7-5. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Both Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs issued statements in regards to the domestic abuse accusations levied against the shortstop in recent days.

In a saga that has quickly picked up steam, the Chicago Cubs took their first step in responding to serious allegations against their young shortstop, Addison Russell.

The team issued a statement this afternoon.

"“Last night, we were made aware of a serious claim posted on social media about Addison Russell. We reached out to Major League Baseball and, following the protocol established by MLB, will fully cooperate with the Commissioner’s Office as it gathers pertinent facts. Addison will not be in uniform tonight to allow him to work through this matter.”"

His wife, Melisa Russell, levied claims of infidelity against her husband in an Instagram post on Wednesday night. An acquaintance of the couple quickly chimed in, accusing Russell of both physical and mental abuse.

The 23-year-old infielder responded to those accusations with a statement Thursday afternoon.

"“Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful. For the well-being of my family, I’ll have no further comment.”"

As Major League Baseball continues to dig into the situation, expect all sides to refrain from commenting further. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein spoke on the matter with members of the press Thursday.

The team instructed Russell to not appear at Wrigley Field for the game against Colorado. Whether or not he will be back with the team at all this weekend remains to be seen.

To-date in 2017, the young infielder has struggled immensely. In his last seven games, he’s batting under .100. On the year, he carries a dismal .209/.291/.335 slash line. Last year, he drove in 95 runs and earned the first All-Star selection of his career.

Jake Misener

For more than a decade, Jake has been a staple in FanSided MLB - leading the Cubbies Crib team for most of that time.When he's not in the bleachers at Wrigley Field, he can be found covering all things Cubs - including the latest hot stove rumors, roster breakdowns and statistical analyses. Inducted into the FanSided Hall of Fame in 2018, Jake has 15+ years of sports journalism and blogging experience - and is now focused on teaching his daughter the ways of Cubs fandom.