Bill Vilona

bvilona@pnj.com

The meteoric rise of Addison Russell in professional baseball comes with this element of astonishment.

Four years ago at this moment, Russell was walking the halls at Pace High during the last semester of his senior year. He had just turned 18. The senior prom was months away.

His final prep season with the Patriots was weeks away. It would end with loss in the Class 6A state championship game in Port St. Lucie, but with solace of winning the 5A title two years earlier and declared national prep champions.

And now? He's the youngest (22) and one of the biggest, brightest new stars in Major League Baseball on a team (Chicago Cubs) with one of the biggest brand names in sports.

Pinch yourself at this dream?

"Yes, sometimes I do.. It's definitely been a quick turnaround from high school, for sure," said Russell, smiling, while being the guest of honor at Sunday's dinner and reception event at Unlimited Training Academy on Pasco Street, where Russell trains before spring training.

The facility, which opened in mid-September, is co-owned by Travis "Moose" Mattair, the former, popular infielder for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos for two seasons, who was the Philadelphia Phillies second-round pick in 2007.

"For him to be freshly 22 years old, it is just incredible how mature he is," said Mattair, 27, who played eight professional seasons. "He deserves to be where he's at. Nothing was given to him.

"He has earned everything he's gotten," said Mattair, who helped organized Sunday's event with owners Savanna and Bryant Richards. "He's put up the numbers, he's handled himself with class. He is a low-risk young player, if that makes sense, because he is such a good locker room guy. He is so genuine."

When the Chicago Cubs begin full-squad workouts in 25 days, they will do it with World Series expectations. And Russell is their cornerstone at shortstop.

All of this comes 18 months after the now-renown Fourth of July 2014 trade between the Oakland A's and Cubs. In that time, Russell has gone from the Texas League, to the Southern League to the International League (Triple-A) in New Orleans to the big leagues.

Oh yeah, and he just turned 22 on Saturday and got married last week.

"It has been a whirlwind," Russell said. "I set my goals pretty high and I try really hard. We've had a lot of success up to this point and just want to keep going.

"But the way I plan things, I kinda already had it my head that I knew I would make a little mistake here and there.. but I'm happy, I'm with my family (in offseason) and I'm married. I get to rejoice with my friends and family back home and there's no better feeling"

Russell will head to spring training in a couple weeks about 12 pounds lighter. He's worked a regimen at the EXOS athletic performance training center, adjacent to Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze. He's fully recovered from the left hamstring injury that kept him out of the Cubs series loss to the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.

"I wasn't bad weight (before), but they have a great program there," he said. "They have been getting me right. I feel in tip top shape right now. It was pretty disappointing to go down like that at the end of the year, but I went down on a good note and I have been working hard."

He'll wear his former Pace High number (27) this season. Russell immediately yielded his former number (22) to Jason Heyward, the 26-year-old outfielder the Cubs acquired in free agency with a contract worth $184 million over eight years.

"Jason has a significant reason for wearing 22," Russell said. "It's not my place to tell him no. I understand."

Russell's significant reason for liking No. 27 is that's the number worn by his boyhood idol, Eddie George, the former Ohio State and Tennessee Titans running back.

"I watched him more frequently than anybody else," Russell said. "My dad (Wayne) was a Tennessee Titans fan. So he was on our TV every Sunday. My dad fantasized over him. I watched him and I just loved what he stood for. He was a running back. I played a little bit of running back (as a freshman at Pace) and he was just a favorite."

During the fundraising event, Russell was handed questions by the kids and adults attending. There were some good ones. Here is a sampling.

WHAT WAS THE SCARIEST TIME YOU EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE?

"Skateboarding when I was little. I used to skim board (at the beach), too. And last year I had a collision with (Mike) Rizzo (Cubs first baseman) behind first base. I caught the ball and preceded to slide about three yards on my head. That hurt pretty bad."

WHO IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PITCHER YOU HAVE FACED?

"(Clayton) Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers). He doesn't have any overpowering stuff. It's just that he has a nasty curve ball and a nasty changeup. The depth of his pitches is really, really good."



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG?

"For some reason, lately (getting married), it's Same Old Love by Selena Gomez."

IF YOU DIDN'T PLAY FOR THE CUBS, WHAT TEAM WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY FOR?

I would say Pittsburgh. That wild card game was pretty sweet. That crowd was rowdy. It was just a good atmosphere. I like the black and yellow (Pirates uniforms). Those colors are sweet. Pittsburgh's just a good town for sports overall. They have the hockey team (NHL Penguins). and the football team (Steelers). They're all just right there (venue proximity). The Steel City would be my second decision."

WHAT PLAYER HAVE YOU ENJOYED PLAYING WITH MOST?

"Kris Bryant (Cubs third baseman). Not just because he's phenomenal on the field. Seeing him and his mindset off the field. He really is a genuine dude and he seems like he has his morals in the right direction. He is just a great guy."

ADDISON RUSSELL FEATS

BIRTHDAY: Saturday, born Jan. 23, 1994 in Pensacola

BIG LEAGUE DEBUT: April 21, PNC Park, Pittsburgh

PREP: Consensus All-American at Pace. Rated the nation's No. 18 prep prospect by Baseball America as a senior. PNJ Athlete of Year in 2011.

PROS: Drafted by Oakland A's in first round (11th overall pick) in 2012. Played 244 minor league games with .301 average, .520 slugging percentage. Became the youngest player in the National League, nearly 15 months youngest than Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper, the second youngest. Made only two errors in 52 games last season at shortstop for the Cubs. Finished with .242 average with 13 HRs, 52 RBI.