Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Slugging, Swanson, and SPLOST

Swanson powers M-Braves in extras

MICHAEL AVALLONE / MiLB.COM

With special teammate in dugout, shortstop lofts go-ahead shot

If Dansby Swanson had gotten a first-pitch fastball during his 10th-inning at-bat, MLB.com’s No. 6 overall prospect might have laid down a bunt. Instead he hit a go-ahead homer.

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 11-15
• Braves News: Braves sign Luplow, Atlanta’s shortstop plans, more
• Atlanta Braves Could Go With Six-Man Rotation in 2023
• Atlanta Braves sign free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow
• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 16-20

Swanson’s blast lifted Double-A Mississippi past Pensacola, 4-3, on Monday at Blue Wahoos Stadium with a unique spectator and teammate on hand to celebrate with him.  [Ed. Note: given this stadium, it was very close to a ‘splash’ homer. ]

Facing Pensacola’s Kyle McMyne (1-3) with one out in the top of the 10th, the 22-year-old shortstop took an off-speed pitch for strike one and then sent a fastball over the wall in left-center field for his third homer this season.

“With the positioning of the infield, I thought that dropping one down might be a good idea,” said Swanson, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. “But he threw me a first-pitch slider and I wasn’t going to try and bunt that. Good thing I didn’t bunt at all.”

…

Adding to the excitement was the presence of Stephen Moore, Atlanta’s 10th-round pick in last year’s First-Year Player Draft.  Although the right-hander, who attended the U.S. Naval Academy, posted a 1.64 ERA in nine appearances for Rookie-level Danville of the Appalachian League in 2015, he began to fulfill his military requirements, which put the brakes on his baseball career.

Based in Pensacola where the M-Braves were playing the Blue Wahoos, Moore continues his role as a weapons systems officer flying in F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets for the United States Navy. He was given permission to spend the five-game series in uniform in the Mississippi dugout.

“Tonight was awesome,” Moore said. “The past couple of days have been a terrific experience and the environment has been great. I can’t be thankful enough to the Braves, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and everyone who helped give me this opportunity. It’s been pretty special.”

Ed. note:  video of Swanson’s homer is available at the original story.

Swanson very nearly hit one out in Sunday’s contest against Pensacola as well, going 2-4 in that game.  He’s now up to .283 for his AA career… still only 16 games and 60 AB long.

Something I left out of my account of the Sunday game in Pensacola that the appearance of Stephen Moore reminded me of:

Upon leaving the stadium Sunday, my wife and I were heading away from the park in downtown Pensacola why she noticed something in the sky… it was a formation of planes trailing smoke… effectively doing a flyover directly overhead.

It was the Navy’s Blue Angels in a diamond formation – probably on a practice run as there was an ‘extra’ plane off to the side – likely a supervisor watching the effort.  That was a really cool way to finish a baseball afternoon!

Since I was driving, I was unable to capture that event on film (does anybody actually use film anymore?), but M-Braves radio man Kyle Tait did:

Next: More Arguments over bridge funding