Major League Baseball

Cubs passed on Addison Russell once, but not twice

Published Jun. 7, 2015 4:31 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Cubs didn't scoff at the opportunity to acquire Addison Russell in a trade with the Oakland Athletics last season, but the team did pass him up in the 2012 Draft.

The Cubs drafted Albert Almore sixth overall in 2012 while Russell was selected 11th overall and went to Oakland.

“Addison was a guy that we all were aware of,” Matt Dorey, a national crosschecker at the time and now the amateur scouting director, told CSN Chicago. “He wasn’t an unknown commodity. He was literally out of shape. There were a of lot concerns about where he would end up defensively.”

Even Russell admits he was a bit out of shape in high school.

“I was like up to 225 at the age of 17,” Russell said.

So Russell made the decision to lose the weight.

“I took the initiative to lose that weight, so I’d come back strong for my senior year,” Russell said. “I wanted to play more shortstop to show off my athletic ability.

“I came back at 195 and just did what I did.”

Turns out that was the right decision and the stay prospect would up in Chicago anyways.

(h/t CSN Chicago)

Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images