Addison Russell Returns To Cubs, A Day After Abuse Allegations Surface

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 9, 2017 8:29PM

Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell / Getty Images / Photo: Jonathan Daniel

Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was back with the team at Wrigley Filed on Friday, one day after news emerged that Major League Baseball would be looking into an allegation that Russell had physically abused his wife. The accusation was made in a social media comment by a friend of Russell's wife, Melisa.

Russell returned to the team for the Friday afternoon home game against the Colorado Rockies. He was not in the lineup on Thursday and was not dressed to play. On Friday he was again absent from the starting lineup, but he was suited up and available to come in off the bench.

"I didn't show up yesterday. I was watching the game on TV. I felt sad, man," Russell said, according to ESPN. "This is what I do. This is what I love. I love being here, in this clubhouse with the boys, having fun. This is my home."

Russell's starting time had already diminished over the last couple of weeks as he's struggled at the plate.

As the Cubs were playing the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, Russell's wife, Melisa, posted on Instagram that Addison had cheated on her and implied that the marriage may be coming to an end. "Being free to be able to make your own choices for your own happiness beats being cheated on, lied to, & disrespected any day," she wrote.

A woman identified as a close friend of Melisa then commented on Instagram, "hateful is cheating on your wife, mentally & physically abusing her." The friend wrote that "he hit her" in front of the couple's children.

Russell denied the accusation on Thursday. “Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful,” he said.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the team had anticipated that Russell would be back on Friday. "It's good to have him back. We had a great conversation and it seems to me, maybe mentally, he's in a little bit better place," he said, via ESPN.