2022 Player Preview: Shortstop Dansby Swanson
Of all the players who were able to earn a World Series ring this season, Dansby Swanson’s ring hits a little closer to home… literally.
The Marietta, Georgia native has proved to be a key member of the Atlanta Braves roster that brought home the World Series this past season.
Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks with the first overall pick, Swanson came to the Braves in one of the most one-sided trades the Braves have been a part of in recent history.
Just as a refresher of how bad this trade was for the Diamondbacks, here’s a quick reminder of how it went down:
In the past two seasons, Swanson has continued to show bursts of why he was the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. And hey, in 2020, he was one of five Braves to earn at least one vote in MVP voting, including 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman.
2021 served as a breakout year for Swanson, as he had career-highs in almost every major stat, including home runs, hits and total bases. While his batting average was about the same level as years previous, he proved to be one of the more powerful batters on the Atlanta lineup.
His 27 home runs were able to contribute a ton for the Braves’ powerful offense, and broke the record for most home runs by a Braves shortstop in history.
Swanson’s 264 total bases also ranked fourth on the Braves, trailing all the other members of the starting infield that combined for 1,186 total bases.
On the defensive side of the ball, Swanson was able to provide for the Atlanta Braves and showcase some of his great defensive talent. One of those defensive plays includes, of course, the final out of the 2021 World Series.
THE FINAL OUT! 🔥
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 3, 2021
Congrats to the World Series Champion @Braves! pic.twitter.com/4NeUl7YV3b
Swanson ranked third among qualifying shortstops in put outs in 2021 with 185, trailing Miguel Rojas (191) and Trevor Story (190). Swanson also ranked fourth in fielding percentage with .982. However, Swanson was tied for fifth in errors among qualifying shortstops with 10, and was one of nine shortstops with at least ten errors.
Unless the Braves are able to secure a long-term deal to keep Dansby local, he will become a free agent after the 2022 season.
Overall, it seems as though Swanson will continue to improve on his previous seasons. His batting average has continued to climb and he has shown glimpses of All-Star potential.
I believe that Swanson has the potential to earn his first All-Star nod and could provide a lot of offensive output as the Braves try to run it back to earn another World Series.