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Chicago Cubs call up prospect Addison Russell

The Chicago Cubs and manager Joe Maddon have called up Addison Russell from Triple A. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
The Chicago Cubs and manager Joe Maddon have called up Addison Russell from Triple A. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

The Chicago Cubs called up infielder Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Russell will waste little time making his major league debut, as manager Joe Maddon has him starting at second base and batting ninth when the Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park Tuesday night.

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Russell, 21, entered the 2015 season ranked as the third-best prospect in the game by Baseball America and the second-best prospect in the Cubs farm system after being named the top prospect in Oakland's system heading into both the 2013 and 2014 campaigns. A first-round pick in the 2012 Draft (11th overall), Russell was acquired by the Cubs with outfielder Billy McKinney and right-hander Dan Straily from Oakland for right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel last July 5.

In 11 games with Triple-A Iowa this season, Russell hit .318 with one homer and nine RBI.

Russell hit .301 with 57 doubles, 20 triples, 38 home runs and 159 RBI in 244 minor league games covering the last four seasons. The right-handed hitter has posted a .377 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage, good for an .897 OPS.

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To make room on the 25-man roster, the Cubs optioned infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara to Triple-A and to make room for Russell on the 40-man roster, infielder Mike Olt was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Alcantara, 23, hit .077 with five runs scored and one RBI in 11 games for the Cubs this season.

Olt, 26, is recovering from a hairline fracture in his right wrist.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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