CHICAGO -- Several hours before Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs hitting coach John Mallee was on the field working with star shortstop Addison Russell. Russell, who made last year's National League All-Star team and earned a few MVP votes, is hitting just .220 to start the season.
"Just some small adjustments," Russell said.
For most players of Russell's age -- he turned 23 in January -- this wouldn't seem like a big deal, and, indeed, it wasn't. But it was notable because Russell is an All-Star with a championship ring, and it's easy to forget that even in his third season as a regular, he’s not yet a finished product.