When Could Addison Russell Be Called Up?

(CBS) In looking to the future, one question permeates Cubs fans' collective wonderment.

When will slugging prospect Kris Bryant make his big league debut?

The answer will be sometime between opening night and June, of course, depending on how much Bryant impresses in spring training and if the team decides to give up a year of club control on the back end of his contract.

After that, the salivating over prospects will turn to 21-year-old shortstop Addison Russell, who Chicago acquired from Oakland last July in a trade that shipped right-hander Jeff Samardzija out of town.

Russell is regarded as a consensus top-five prospect in baseball, and he could have a chance to play at Wrigley Field this season, MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis said Thursday in an interview on the Spiegel and Mannelly Show. It all depends on Chicago's needs

Russell split time betwee high Class-A and Double-A in 2014. He hit .295 with 13 homers, 45 RBIs and an .858 OPS in a combined 68 games.

"He's been hurt a little bit the last couple years," Callis said. "He had hamstring injuries last year, so as advanced as he is -- he's No. 5 on our prospect list -- he only had a couple hundred at-bats in Double-A last year. So in terms of needing to be in the big leagues? And he's only 21 years old too. I think if you wanted to, you could legitimately say, 'Well, he could use a full season in the minors.' That said, he's so talented. He really doesn't have a weakness in his game. If he goes out and tears it up in Double-A, you could also make a case for promoting him to the big leagues in June. I think it's just depending where the Cubs stand. If they contend as we expect they will probably will this year and depending what their needs are in the middle infield, we may see him sooner rather than later.

"I they were to keep him in the minors all season, I don't think it would be a case where you'd look at it and say, 'What are they doing?'"

Click here to listen to the full interview, as Callis also discusses the depth of the Cubs' pitching prospects and about Bryant's future.