Pace grad Russell making it hard for Cubs in a good way

With each passing day in spring training, Addison Russell may give the Chicago Cubs an enviable dilemma.

Where does he play? And how soon?

The Pace High graduate, the most acclaimed shortstop prospect from our region since Jay Bell and Travis Fryman left high school ball decades ago, has a world of future ahead.

He started his second spring training game Sunday (the other was a split squad start), collecting a hit in three at-bats in the Cubs 6-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. He has a single and double in six at-bats with a run scored.

Russell turned 21 on Jan. 23.

After being part of a blockbuster trade to the Cubs on the Fourth of July last year, Russell is now part of hope with one of baseball's most beloved and beleaguered franchises.

The Cubs are loaded with young talent. Especially across the infield. The Cubs starting shortstop, Starlin Castro, enters his sixth season. He is a three-time All-Star. On March 24, he turns 25. Few players boast such a meteoric rise.

Third base? Stacked. Kris Bryant is a star-in-waiting. Two older players are both under 30. Second base? Javier Baez is 22 and another rising star.

"I just think they're going to probably move me around a little bit until something big happens," said Russell, speaking last week to ESPN-Chicago's Jesse Rogers, prior to the start of Cactus League games in Arizona. "Who knows, maybe nothing big happens and I may have to move around a little bit.

"And I am fine with that."

There are various possibilities with Russell, who led Pace to a state title in 2010, then state runnerup in 2012. He is part of a complete makeover.

The Cubs acquired manager Joe Madden, the former Tampa Bay Rays manager, in a deal finalized in October at a RV park in Navarre. Yes, the Cubs met him in Navarre. Madden has a great reputation in helping young players in the big leagues.

"I told Joe I would love to play second, I would love to play third, maybe even outfield," Russell told ESPN Chicago. "Just put something on my resume other than shortstop, because it is something good to have there.

"I played a little bit of third base (at Pace), not as much second base (experience) as I want to, but I have a feeling I may be playing there this spring training, so I need to get acclimated to it."

Joining him with acclimation to the Cubs is Pensacola High graduate Adron Chambers. After spending a bulk of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, including being part of a World Series experience in 2011, Chambers signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in December.

The outfielder is on the Cubs' 40 man roster. This is a big spring for him, too. In a perfect world, both Russell and Chambers would be with the Tennessee Smokies, the Cubs' Double-A affiliate, when they visit the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on May 5-9.

The more likely scenario is both will be in Triple-A Des Moines. It's a fast track for Russell and a new opportunity for Chambers. Both could be part of a breakthrough time in Chicago.