Atlanta Braves 2022 Season Review: SS Dansby Swanson

Coming off a career-year with the Atlanta Braves, just how special was the 2022 season for Dansby Swanson?

Taking a look back at the 2022 season for the Atlanta Braves, there were few players, if any, more reliable on a day-to-day basis than Dansby Swanson. Starting in all 162 games, Swanson was a constant for the Braves at shortstop, with the 28-year-old Marietta native posting a career-year during his seventh season with his hometown team.

As for what that year looked like, here is a look back at the 2022 season for Swanson.

Atlanta Braves 2022 Season Review: SS Dansby Swanson

This may have been the seventh career season in the major leagues for Swanson, each of which have come in Atlanta, but the 2022 season marked only the first time that Swanson appeared in all 162 games during a season in his career, a number that led all of baseball.

Beginning with the season’s first month, Swanson initially struggled at times to begin the year, posting a combined .644 OPS during April. Things began to click for Swanson offensively however during May as the 28-year-old shortstop slashed .304/.357/.490 across 28 games, while also adding five HR and 17 RBI.

Swanson made an even bigger jump during June, slashing .330/.390/.563 with seven HR and 19 RBI, as well as post an .823 OPS across the first 17 games during July. As a result of his first half (.294/.353/.481 – 15 HR, 53 RBI, 20 2B, 14 SB), Swanson made his first-career All-Star appearance, then concluded July with a strong start to the second half by hitting .314 across the first nine games.

The month of August was a bit of a struggle for Swanson compared to the months prior as the 28-year-old slashed.254/.302/.373 with 23 RBI. Swanson went on to post a combined .723 OPS with eight HR and 19 RBI across the final 31 games to conclude the year, bringing an end to what was an impressive regular season.

Across the second half of the season as well, Swanson slashed a combined .254/.298/.404 with 10 HR and 43 RBI. Swanson also appeared in all four of the Braves’ NLDS games during the postseason, batting a combined 2-for-16 at the plate with a double and three runs scored.

For the year overall, Swanson slashed .277/.329/.447 across 162 games with 25 HR, 96 RBI, and 18 SB. Holding a 182:49 K:BB ratio, Swanson posted a few other notable numbers such as a .776 OPS, 115 OPS+, 32 2B, and a by-far career-high 5.7 WAR.

Taking a deeper look at those numbers as well, Swanson posted career-high’s in multiple statistical categories, a list that included hits, RBI, and stolen bases, as well as the previously mentioned WAR.

Now a free agent, Swanson is likely to be one of the top names from a loaded shortstop free agent class this offseason. Could Swanson potentially return to the Atlanta Braves as a free agent this offseason?