PITTSBURGH -- Addison Russell is a shortstop. He's always been a shortstop. At every level of baseball he's played in his life, he's been considered one of the best shortstops in that particular league. Until recently, there was little reason to seriously believe his big league debut -- a moment that, regardless of Russell's young age, has long felt inevitable -- would come anywhere other than shortstop.
And then one day in New Orleans last week, Russell's Triple-A manager tapped him on the shoulder late in a game that would go to extras and gave him the news.