Russell arrives as Cubs' youth movement marches on

Only a week ago Tuesday, the Cubs looked quite different.

Arismendy Alcantara started at second base while Jonathan Herrera played third, with Mike Olt pinch hitting and finishing the game at third base.

One week later, Alcantara was getting set to go to Class AAA Iowa, and Olt was being transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Playing third base for the Cubs in Tuesday night's game at Pittsburgh was Kris Bryant, last year's consensus minor-league player of the year. And playing second was Addison Russell, the Cubs' top prospect after Bryant and a shortstop by trade.

Performance and injury conspired to help the Cubs accelerate their exciting youth movement and perhaps push them into a win-now mentality.

They weren't getting much offensive production from second base - Alcantara was batting .077 - and Olt suffered a hairline fracture of his right wrist almost two weeks ago. In addition, infielder Tommy La Stella is on the DL.

Enter Bryant and Russell. They join a core of veteran young players that includes first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop Starlin Castro and right fielder Jorge Soler as well as young starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

"Theory and reality are kind of coming together," manager Joe Maddon told reporters Tuesday at PNC Park, where the Cubs are playing the Pirates. "Now they have to go out there and play. It's one thing to look good on a piece of paper. It's another thing to go out there and perform.

"I have a lot of faith in this group. They are going to perform."

A hint of a Russell call-up came last week, when the Cubs moved him from his natural position to second base at Iowa. Late Monday night, they decided to let him play second in the big leagues.

"I think it's a good thing for me that is going to push me, and I'm looking forward to it," Russell said.

When spring training started, one of the questions being asked was, "What are the Cubs going to do with all those shortstops?"

Castro is the incumbent and a three-time all-star. He has been the speculation of trade talk for the last couple of years, but he's off to a good start, both at the plate and in the field, making him look like a keeper.

"Starlin, for me, has been playing really well," Maddon said. "Since the second or third game, he's come on."

Another shortstop-by-trade, Javier Baez, saw big-league time last year, both at second base and shortstop. He was sent to Iowa in spring training and has been out of action lately while mourning the death of his sister.

"This game answers its own questions," Maddon said. "I think it's great we have multiple people playing these spots."

The Cubs obtained Russell last July from the Oakland organization in a trade that sent pitching ace Jeff Samardzija to the Oakland Athletics. With three minor-league teams last year, including the Cubs' Class AA Tennessee affiliate, Russell played in 68 games and had a line of .295/.350/.508 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI.

In 11 games at Iowa this season, he was 14-for-44 (.318) with 4 doubles 1 homer and 9 RBI. In Tuesday night's game, he was ninth in the batting order.

"I was pretty surprised; I really wasn't expecting it," he told the media before the game. "I got to Triple-A with the mindset I'm going to finish out Triple-A.

"I'm getting more familiar with second base. My confidence is going up. I'm starting to learn the responsibilities with second base."