SURPRISE, Ariz. – All-Star shortstop Addison Russell was scratched from the Cubs’ lineup Sunday against the Texas Rangers because of lingering soreness near his left elbow, where he was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s fourth inning.
It was a precautionary move, the team said. Russell suffered a bruise.
Also noteworthy about Sunday’s game is that Cy Young finalist Jon Lester — tabbed for the Cubs’ Opening Day start — makes his first start of the spring.
Munenori Kawasaski, who was scheduled to make his first start at third this spring, slides over to short to take Russell’s place in the field.
Kawasaki, by the way, has made a strong impression on manager Joe Maddon so far in camp.
“I think a big part of his success is the new glasses he’s wearing,” the manager said of the Maddon-like frames Kawasaki showed up wearing in the clubhouse this spring. “Yeah, he looks like me a little bit right now. So I think that’s part of it.”
At least a small part of it might also be the ability and versatility in the field – which gets stretched with a start at third base Sunday against the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz.
And, said Maddon, “his at-bats never surprise me. He works good at-bats. He’s really good on defense. He’s a very smart base runner. I love having him around – we all do. Anything he does never shocks me.”
Kawasaki, 35, is a veteran of 276 major-league games for Seattle, Toronto and the Cubs since a 10-year career in the Japanese major leagues.
Kawasaki, who was called up from AAA Iowa for 14 games with the Cubs last season (7-for-21, four walks, two doubles), is best known for his offbeat, bilingual humor and engaging personality.
“But he’s a good baseball player. He’s a really good baseball player,” Maddon said. “He’s the kind of guy that’s never been viewed here as your starting guy and he’s probably not going to be. And that’s OK. He could have a long career here continuing to do what he does right now. Because of all the different positives he brings to a group. And the main positive is that he’s a good player. And then beyond that it’s just about his personality.”
The new lineup against the Rangers (2:05 p.m., CT):
2B Javy Baez
DH Tommy La Stella
C Willson Contreras
1B Jeimer Candelario
CF Albert Almora Jr.
RF Matt Szczur
LF Jacob Hannemann
3B Chesny Young
SS Munenori Kawasaki
(LHP Jon Lester)
