The Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League have signed shortstop Addison Russell and re-signed left-hander Eric Jokisch to contracts for the 2023 season, according to reports out of South Korea. (Hat tip to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net). Jokisch will receive $1.5MM, while Russell receives $700K.
This is Russell’s second KBO stint, after previously playing 65 games with the Heroes during the 2020 season. Russell hit .254/.317/.336 over 271 plate appearances that year, and the Heroes didn’t renew Russell’s contract after the season was up. Russell has spent the last two seasons posting big numbers with Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.
Once one of baseball’s top prospects, Russell spent five seasons with the Cubs (2015-19) and was an important part of the team’s 2016 World Series championship club. However, in 2018, Russell was issued a 40-game suspension under the MLB-MLBPA Join Domestic Violence Policy, in the wake of the league’s investigation into accusations made by Russell’s ex-wife of physical and verbal abuse during their marriage. The Cubs chose to tender Russell a contract following the 2018 season, but non-tendered the shortstop following the 2019 campaign.
Jokisch’s Major League resume consists of four games and 14 1/3 innings with the Cubs back in 2014, and he also pitched in the minors with the Marlins, Rangers, Diamondbacks, and Athletics over the course of his nine seasons in affiliated baseball. The southpaw then signed with the Heroes prior to the 2019 season, and has become a staple for the Seoul-based club, posting a 2.72 ERA over 701 2/3 innings and 117 starts for the Heroes over the last four seasons.
Jokisch turns 34 in July, and with such a comfortable niche carved out for himself in the KBO League, it remains to be seen if he’ll ever explore a return to North American baseball. There was some indication that MLB teams were interested in the lefty during the 2020-21 offseason, but he ended up returning to the Heroes.
I don’t like Addison.
Addison is no Hero.
He’s not a real man either
Hope he pays for what he did.
Actually, the Cubs paid; gave him $3.5 mil the following season. Messy divorces lead to a lot of hearsay.
No no no, not the money he did stuff off the field that was terrible.
Such horrible stuff that the Cubs gave him $3.5 mil.
A nonsense story-doubt he could find enough pennies and if he did he’d need a forklift to deliver them to the courthouse.
Thought teams consider “character” when they sign players, but didn’t realize you were the prosecuter in that case.
Not sure why they say he was an important part of the team. He could never hit and kept Baez from playing SS. Pretty sure Baez was the better defender and he definitely had the better bat. Another big trade from Epstein that flopped. Still not sure why he is thought of so highly. Anyone can win a championship by throwing money at the problem. Let’s see him bring a championship to Baltimore or Milwaukee. Then I will think better of him.
He is a disease.
Who cares really
Nobody cares – Sonny
A Bronx Tale?
Of course!
I named my dog after Addison Russell (Addie) in 2014 when the Cubs traded for him.
Thankfully Addison serves more than one purpose in the Cubs world.
My next best option was going to be saying I named her after what got me through my 20’s: Adderall.
Yikes! I can’t blame you for at the time. But damn that didn’t age well. Did the cubs get him for Samardja?
Pretty sure I left out a Z somewhere in Jeff’s name ..
Yea. I remember I was at a Twins-Yankees game over the 4th of July weekend and it came across on my phone, and I was so excited, because Rizzo was already good, Baez was hit and miss (literally), Bryant was the next big thing, and then they added a toolsy Russell, and the A’s are known for developing quality baseball players..
Oh and yes – Samardjiza.
It’s Samardzija
Gritting my teeth at this one.
If it makes you feel better, she’s been a great dog..she’s 8 now, and unlike Mr. Russell, she’s well liked by pretty much everyone.
Love it!!! Wish you could post a pic, I’d love to see her
On Facebook: Ryan Matthew Downs. She’s the golden retriever on the right in my cover photo.
Addison is also Mitch McConnel’s real first name.
Addison Rae of TikTok and Addison Montgomery of Grey’s Anatomy are probably better known with the younger crown, and you have a female dog.
Addison is also the name of my great-step-uncle (I think). It gets a little tough when it gets that far removed. He was a great guy, by all historical accounts.
Oh, wait, I’m going to go ahead and guess that the irrelevance of great-step-uncles (or whatever) is probably outside the care and consideration of this thread….. doesn’t change the facts though!
I have two golden retrievers and they’re awesome dogs
I also have two. I feel like anyone that gets one golden ends up with two, because you already have a ton of hair to deal with, so you’re like “what’s a little bit more?” And since they are such good dogs, getting another one is such an easy choice.
Very cute man!
Addison Russell is a hero.
If that’s the case, in the words of Tina Turner, we don’t need another hero.
Russell goes to show that defense only players are a dime a dozen, though he put up monster numbers last year.
Addison Russell as a Hero might be the quintessential oxyMORON.
Surprised that with all the shortstop holes and the crazy shortstop prices that no mlb team picked him up. You would think he would been had very cheap
Oh wow, I forgot all about Addison. He was a huge prospect. I’m actually surprised he compiled an 11 career WAR and an all star appearance.
On a personal level, doesn’t he beat women? He was probably insecure about how ugly he is and how hot the women he dated were. Focused on that stuff more than his MLB skills.
He can go F himself. Not only a disgrace to MLB but a disgrace to all men. As Phil Leotardo said, I’m embarrassed.
There was a story that he paid his oldest daughter child support in pennies.
He was a very important part of the 2016 team but truthfully he can stay in Korea or send him to Russia instead.
Is Jockisch pronounced like jock itch?
I don’t know but I’d probably rather have jock itch than a name that sounds like it. Easier fix.
Yoke-ish.
I bet regardless of how he pronounced it that’s *exactly* how it was pronounced all throughout high school.
Y’all keep talking about heroes while I eat a gyro.
Nice non-sequitur Lloyd
Not far enough…
I’m surprised MLBTR left the comments open with an Addison Russell post. Didn’t they close them in the past?
Russell must really be a POS. He’s 28, should be at the prime of his career has not been able to even sniff a MLB job for 3 years. I thought he was more than a competent defender with some pop in his bat and not one of 32 MLB teams would give him a second chance.?. He is even represented by Scott Boros. Like I said this guy must really be a POS.
Cubs didn’t think he was a POS-they gave him $3.5 Mil the year after the suspension.
He is a POS as a person, not a player.
People deserve 2nd chances. I’m sure he learned his lesson.
Uh…he can’t even hit in Korea so…
Only good at hitting minor league pitching and women
He beat two women. That’s two chances as far I am concerned. Also, how can you be sure of that? Do you know him personally?
No!
Well, you are right and it sounds like he’s divorced so you’re welcome to give him a call…?
Garbage human being he is, not to mention a terrible defender at 2nd base as that’s where the Heroes had him play last time when Ha-Seong Kim was their everyday shortstop.
Addison Russell can’t beat the opportunity he is getting from the KBO.
Not defending any scum who would throw at a lady.. but his EX wife had accusations after they were no longer together huh. Must of been pics and hard proof. Otherwise she has done well at destroying his rep.
Y’all are 0 for 2 on “Samardzija”, which reminds me that he was paid well over $100M which reminds me of what even the very best spellers are worth………..
I am a white sox fan. I say this because though it is not impossible, I tend to love my team and hate on others. Most especially the cubbies
I saw this Russell kid step up and respected how he played… became a fan even.
However, I should have stayed a homer.
When you think about what a total piece of trash Addi must be… he was so rotten that his ex ruined her cash cow rather than spend another moment associated to him. Here this guy was a world series champion and major contributor on a team that had the worst drought in sports in a major world city that loves its sports idols. He literally would have made millions for years and had advertising for years after. But he was so horrible that she couldn’t help but expose him for the weak excuse for a human being that he is.
Future home for Trevor Bauer.
If he puts up number similar to his last stint there he’ll be cut by June.
I like to abuse women-Addison Russell
Last time he played for the Heroes he wasn’t very good and struggled mightily. It will be interesting to see what happens with Puig, they maybe on the same team dependent upon the outcome of his ‘matter’. They really should have won the KBO in 22.
glad to see Jokisch back. have watched him pitch 50 or 60 times the past couple seasons. he is happy in the Kbo and that’s nice to see. I wish Addison Russell all the best really, but man am I conflicted. Kiwoom is my team, I hate to see this guy on my team. I guess this is a lesson in forgiveness for me (or greed and ignorance for the Heroes management).
Jim Bowden once compared Russell to “Barry Larkin” – not quite.
Good for him and Chapman winning a ring. You’d be hard-pressed to find two more deserving players than them
Never the same player after he beat his wife