Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is currently on administrative leave through the end of the season as MLB investigates allegations by his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, that Russell was physically and verbally abusive during their relationship. Russell has denied the allegations, which surfaced last week when Reidy wrote about her experience on his personal blog.
In a new interview that I think is very much worth everyone’s time, Reidy spoke with ESPN about her experience in coming forward after her divorce was finalized, and at a time when many women are thankfully finding the courage to speak out:
I spoke with Addison Russell's ex-wife. Here's the exclusive interview: https://t.co/r6lWcJrEAh
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) September 28, 2018
I think Melisa, and other women who share their stories at considerable risk and cost to themselves, deserve to be heard.
I do want to share one point she made to ESPN, which goes a great deal toward helping MLB accomplish what it wants to with the joint domestic violence program. It isn’t just about punishing offenders, it’s about creating a real and meaningful support system for families: “I hope that organizations that are family-oriented will do better in having some kind of system to help victims of domestic abuse, help them transition from what they are going through. Baseball is very, very stressful. It takes a toll on a relationship. Not everyone knows how to work through things. That could be huge.”
The Cubs, who are in many ways among the best at taking care of families, could do well to be an industry leader going forward.
In the meantime, MLB will at some point conclude its investigation of Russell, presumably releasing conclusions and consequences soon. It is very unlikely that Russell will re-join the team in the postseason, after which the Cubs will have to make a decision about Russell’s future with the organization. He is controllable via arbitration for three more seasons.