The black sheep
Addison Russell gives off that ‘black sheep’ vibe a lot of the time. For one thing, the potential of Russell’s expectation level has always existed. The notion that Addison Russell is a substantial contributor is hardly seen on a season-to-season basis simply because most people think he is bad. It is not true, however.
The Chicago Cubs acquired Russell a handful of years ago from the Oakland Athletics. At the time, Russell was seen as the next big shortstop star. In his first full season on the North Side, Russell slashed .242/.307/.389 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Russell also finished his rookie campaign with a 2.4 WAR.
The following season, Russell posted an even more productive season. When it was all said and done, Russell had his first 20+ home run season, finishing with 21. He also ended with an even higher WAR, at 3.3. It was also good enough for Russell to earn his first career All-Star appearance.