Addison Russell’s Ex-Wife Melisa Speaks Out After Going Public With Abuse Allegations

The ex-wife of Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is speaking out publicly for the first time after her allegations of abuse against the infielder were published in a blog post.

Melisa Reidy-Russell, who detailed those allegations of both physical and verbal abuse in an emotional blog post last week, told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that she has spoken to Major League Baseball, and revealed why she didn’t do so last season when allegations of abuse first came up.

“My lawyers thought I wasn't prepared, emotionally," Reidy-Russell said. “(MLB) told me I didn’t have to do it on their timeline. I told them I wanted to wait until after my divorce. (They have) been very patient.”

Allegations of abuse first came up in the summer of 2017, when a friend of Reidy-Russell posted accusations as comments on an Instagram post. MLB opened an investigation into the matter, and it has remained open ever since.

After Reidy-Russell’s blog post became public last week, the shortstop was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball as they continue to investigate the case. Russell has denied any wrongdoing multiple times, including in a written statement after the publication of the blog post.

In the interview with ESPN, Reidy-Russell spoke emotionally about her struggle to decide whether or not to come forward, whether to report the alleged abuse to authorities, and said that she has found herself through the struggles, and that’s why she’s decided to speak out.

"The night I posted that, it was not planned,” she said. “It was pretty late. Lying in bed one night, it just popped in my head so I grabbed my phone and prayed. I wanted to help someone else. I knew my words could benefit someone out there.”