Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell will be suspended for roughly the first month of the 2019 season as part of his ban for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, and the reaction he got from fans at spring training over the weekend is probably mild compared to what he is in for later this year.
Reed had his first at-bat of spring training in Sunday’s exhibition against the San Francisco Giants. According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, there was “total silence” when he walked to the plate at Scottsdale Stadium.
Zero reaction as Addison Russell goes to the plate for the first time this spring. Cubs fans didn't cheer, Giants fans didn't boo. Total silence.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) February 24, 2019
Russell’s ex-wife Melisa Reidy has accused the 25-year-old of mental and physical abuse. The allegations first surfaced when Reidy and a friend ripped Russell on social media in June 2017, and Reidy opened up more in a Facebook post more than a year later. That led to MLB opening an investigation and suspending Russell for 40 games.
There had been speculation that Russell would not remain with the Cubs through the offseason, but as of now it does not look like he is going anywhere. The silence he heard on Sunday may be one of the warmer receptions he will get this season.
