Kris Bryant and Addison Russell went yard for the first time in the same game Sunday in Iowa’s 7-2 victory over the Memphis Redbirds.
Addison Russell went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday. Russell cranked a two-run homer, his first at the Triple-A level, to left central (2-1 pitch) in the third inning off lefty Tyler Lyons with John Andreoli at second base following a double. Russell batted second in front of Bryant for the second day in a row.
Kris Bryant was 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Bryant launched his second homer in as many days over the wall in right central off southpaw Dean Kiekhefer in the seventh inning. And Addison Russell was along for the ride after reaching with a single to center.
After four games in Memphis, Addison Russell is 7-for-18 with a double, a home run, a walk and no strikeouts (.389/.421/.611) for a 1.032 OPS. Russell has collected 11 total bases in 19 plate appearances with three RBI.
Kris Bryant is 5-for-16 in four games with a double, two home runs, a stolen base, a walk and five strikeouts (.313/.316/.750) for a 1.066 OPS. Bryant has 12 total bases in 17 plate appearances with seven RBI.
Addison Russell talked to Ashley Marshall following his first three-hit game of the season and admitted he was seeing the ball well Sunday. Russell is a fastball hitter, but the home run came on a changeup. Russell did not see as many pitches as he wanted to Sunday (one, two-pitch at bat and one, four-pitch at bat).
Sunday was the first time Russell collected three hits in the same game since last July 28 when he went 4-for-6 with Double-A Tennessee.
Once again, Addison Russell’s performance was overshadowed by Kris Bryant due to the anticipation Bryant is free of the service time issue this week. Addison Russell keeps going about his business and is not garnering the headlines now he will as soon as Bryant is called-up.
While there are questions as to where Kris Bryant will play once he’s called up (first four games has been at third base), there is little doubt what position Addison Russell will occupy when he makes his big league debut.