Pitcher C.J. Edwards and shortstop Addison Russell are among seven players the Chicago Cubs will send to participate in the Arizona Fall League, MLB announced on Tuesday.
Both players were limited this summer due to injuries.
Russell, 20, is the third-best prospect in baseball, according to ESPN Insider Keith Law. He participated in fall ball last season while a member of the Oakland Athletics after being drafted 11th overall in 2012. Russell was sidelined at the beginning of this season with a hamstring injury. He was traded to the Cubs for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel shortly after returning to action. He's currently at Double-A Tennessee.
Edwards, rated 67th, also missed time this season with shoulder soreness. Also at Double-A Tennessee, Edwards is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in nine starts. He was acquired in 2013 as part of a trade with Texas which sent Matt Garza to the Rangers.
Other Cubs participating in the Arizona Fall League are pitchers Zach Cates, Gerardo Concepcion and Ivan Pineyero. First baseman Dan Vogelbach is on the roster as is outfielder Jacob Hannemann, who was named to the taxi-squad.
Absent from fall participation is 2014 first-round pick Kyle Schwarber. He signed with the Cubs and started playing for the organization shortly after being drafted this summer so a need for more at-bats and playing time probably wasn't a high priority. Last summer, first-round pick Kris Bryant was a late signing so the extra time during the fall made sense. He won the Fall League MVP in 2013.
The Arizona Fall League consists of six teams made up of Double-A and Triple-A prospects from around baseball. Each major league organization provides seven players subject to certain eligibility requirements. The Cubs will play for the Mesa Solar Sox.
