Successful Return for Top-Prospect Addison Russell

Yesterday marked the first time since early April that Oakland’s top-prospect Addison Russell played for any of the A’s minor league affiliates. Russell looked every bit as good as when his season started, prior to him tearing his hamstring in a game for the Midland Rockhounds.

Russell was in the lineup for the Stockton Ports, the team he had played for during the 2013 baseball season and had a great day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a BB and an RBI. Russell singled in the first inning to left field, then singled to right-center with a line drive shot in the second inning. But Russell also impressed by swiping a bag in the first inning, showing his injury is all but in the past.

Russell batted second and played shortstop for the Ports and had a planned seven innings before being pulled from the game just for precautionary reasons. He’ll more than likely be staying with the Ports for a week or so, and the Ports have already announced he will be in their lineup tonight, which is the last game of their home-stand before heading out to San Jose to face the Giants.

After that is the California vs. Carolina All Star Game, so it’s likely Russell will only have one more series with the high-A team before heading back up to Midland.