Russell just finished serving a 40-game suspension for violating the league's joint domestic violence policy, a punishment that came after his ex-wife detailed allegations of abuse. He has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa but is expected to rejoin the
"He's really tried to improve all aspects of his life," Hoyer said on the McNeil & Parkins Show on Thursday afternoon. "He's really been compliant and gone above and beyond what we've asked of him. But all that said, I think a fan has to make their own choice. And if a fan chooses to cheer him, then they should cheer him. If a fan chooses to boo him as a way of voicing their displeasure, then they should do that. In general, we should never be in the role of telling fans how to act or how to behave or how to support or not support their players. I think if fans choose to voice their displeasure, that's their choice. They paid money. They're a Cubs fan. They have every right to do that. I think everyone has to sort of make their own decision with how to react to it. I don't that I should be the one to try to influence that."
Asked if the Cubs could move perhaps on from Russell and give him a "fresh start elsewhere," Hoyer declined to delve into that topic, speaking more generally instead.
"We've said repeatedly there's not a finish line when it comes to issues like this," Hoyer said. "We have to continue to work with him. He's done an excellent job in all areas of his life since we've started this process. And that's going to continue on an option now (to Triple-A). We didn't feel like from a baseball standpoint he was quite ready. We felt like getting some more time and moving around the diamond at second a little bit, getting some more at-bats -- he had six games in Iowa (on the rehab stint previously), we thought it was the right thing to do to get some more at-bats. But so far, he's really made a terrific effort to improve in all areas of his life. That's been our focus. There's not a finish line to it.
"That's as far as I'll speculate."