http://www.authentictwinsshop.com/authentic-48-torii-hunter-jersey.html MESA, Ariz. -- Some people have epiphanies when they're struck by bolts of lightning. Addison Russell inadvertently glimpsed his destiny via a beer sign on the north side of Chicago. In 2010, Russell was a 16-year-old high school sophomore playing in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field when he noticed a neighborhood billboard with a picture of a frosty cold brew beside the words "Where Clark Met Addison." As a product of the Florida panhandle, Russell was unfamiliar with the intersection at which Wrigley sits. But the sign resonated with him anew when the Chicago Cubs acquired him from the Oakland Athletics by trade in July 2014. "At the time, I was like, 'What does that sign mean?'" Russell said. "Of course, it was the corner of Clark and Addison Streets. I thought that was pretty cool. When I got traded to the Cubs, that thought came back into my head: 'Maybe I have a chance to play in that stadium again.'" Terry Steinbach Youth Jersey For all the Cubs' torment, they stack up nicely with their MLB competitors in the shortstop department. Ernie Banks won two most valuable player awards at short and hit 277 of his 512 home runs at the position on his journey to Cooperstown. Don Kessinger could really pick it back in the day, and Shawon Dunston possessed the mother of all howitzers. Those three are joined by Joe Tinker, the only .262 hitter to be feted with a Hall of Fame plaque and a poem for the ages. Against that illustrious backdrop, the argument can be made that Russell arrives at the biggest crossroads and the most exciting time in franchise history. With the team's world championship drought at 108 years and counting, the Cubs are coming off a 97-win season and generating buzz that has prompted the fan base to think the previously unthinkable. Wrigley Field, like the 25-man roster, is undergoing major renovations, and Russell arrives on the scene alongside Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager in a budding "golden age" for shortstops. If the Cubs are the least bit anxious about entrusting the pivotal defensive position on the field to a kid who is four years removed from anchoring the Pace High School Patriots' starting infield, Russell eases their concerns by arriving at the ballpark early, putting his head down and getting down to business every day. He's a perfectionist and a stickler for detail who should come with a "no maintenance required" label. Jonathan Lucroy Womens Jersey "He's got a good head on his shoulders," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "He's our youngest player, but he might be the one we worry about the least." During the Cubs' first full-squad workout Wednesday at Sloan Stadium, Russell took his hacks in a batting practice group with Jason Heyward, Jorge Soler and his new double-play partner, Ben Zobrist. In idle moments outside the cage, Russell flipped his bat back and forth between his legs and from one hand to another with the dexterity of a baton twirler. As Russell worked, the team's new community ambassador looked on approvingly from behind a pair of shades and a Cubs spring training cap. Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg knows the real deal when he sees it. Russell has already gained Sandberg's seal of approval. "His potential is very good," Sandberg said. "He reminds me of a young Barry Larkin, maybe. He has that kind of look and feel. He's very athletic, and he can improvise on making throws when he gets to balls. There's a little bit of an acrobat in there. But there's some steadiness with him too, which is what you want at the position." http://www.authenticmetsshop.com/authentic-5-david-wright-jersey.html Oakland executive Billy Beane has also invoked the Larkin comparison, while Cubs manager Joe Maddon flashed back to a certain 14-time All-Star the first time he watched Russell field grounders with technical precision.