He’s back.

Prior to Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs activated star shortstop Addison Russell, who has been sidelined for the last six-plus weeks due to lingering foot discomfort.

#Cubs also activate Russell from DL — Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) September 16, 2017

Russell’s activation comes as a little bit of a surprise because previous reports suggested he might not even return, which turned into reports that hinted at a return against the Brewers next week, to the news today that he’s been activated. But he said Friday that he’s game-ready and the Cubs must have liked what they saw from his workout.

Russell had a DRS of +14 before foot complications despite dealing with both the foot and shoulder pain. If fully healthy, the Cubs will add one of the best defenders in the sport even when not 100 percent.