The Chicago Cubs have one of the better middle infields in Major League Baseball, with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner being Gold Glovers at their respective positions.
To his credit, Hoerner was ranked last year as the tenth-best second baseman in baseball by MLB Network and will figure to move up on the list by improving offensively and defensively.
For all of his accolades, and accomplishments so far in his career, Swanson has been one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball for close to a decade and again he was recognized as being one of the best in the game.
Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson makes MLB Networks top 10 shortstops
MLB Network recently released their rankings for the top ten shortstops in the game and the Cubs 2x Gold Glover made the cut ranking as the sixth best in all of Major League Baseball. This is the third straight season according to MLB Networks Brian Kenny that Swanson has made the top ten. Swanson signed a seven-year $177 million deal back in 2022 and since joining the Cubs he has been league average offensively with an OPS+ of 101 but is one of the better defensive shortstops with having a defensive run saved of 7 according to Baseball Reference. Swanson also led all Major League Baseball in fielding percentage at .990 in 1273.1 innings last season.
Here are the Top 10 shortstops in the Big Leagues, according to The Shredder! @MLBNow | #Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/MpruEBO4Wo
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2025
A look at Swanson’s Baseball Savant proves that further with Swanson ranking in the 97th and 99th percentile for his fielding and his range. He also proved a capable base runner ranking in the 94th percentile for his base running value.
Swanson had had a down year in the power department dropping below a .400 slugging percentage for the first time in five seasons with having a .390 slug for last season. However, taking a deeper look into Swansons splits he was better post All-Star break than he was prior. In 62 games post-All-Star break Swanson hit 14 doubles, 7 HRs, and 35 RBI, for a slash line of .281/.352/.443 for an OPS of .795.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson makes a third consecutive visit to the #Top10RightNow, coming in as The Shredder’s #6 shortstop entering next season. pic.twitter.com/ARBMKdqD0b
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2025
The 30-year-old also proved to be a very good situational hitter for the Cubs last season showing the ability to put the ball in play when runners are on first and third. In 19 games (16 at bats) Swanson had a .375 average, .389 OBP, a .438 slug, with an OPS of .827.
Dealing with a core injury all last season
News came out earlier this offseason that Swanson was dealing with a sports hernia that required offseason core surgery. Swanson is expected to be ready to go for spring training which could be the reason for the down year offensively. Having a strong core is a vital part of being a good hitter and when that area is affected everything from power to even just hitting a mere single becomes painful.
Speaking to The Athletics Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, Dansby Swanson said of dealing with the injury last season:
“I’ve been dealing with this for a pretty long time,” Swanson said. “Over a year, probably like a season-and-a-half worth. I wasn’t quite sure what it was in the beginning. That’s why I didn’t do surgery (right away). I did a bunch of rehab things. But it got to the point where it felt like this was going to be necessary. And it’s going to be something that can kind of get me back to where I want to be.”
Swanson added why he decided to play through the pain by stating:
“No one’s going to give excuses for this, that and the other,” Swanson said. “It was obviously my choice to play, and play through things. We all do throughout the year. You see guys all the time at the end of the year: ‘Oh, I didn’t realize you were dealing with that.’ No one makes excuses about it. But obviously when you’re healthy, it affects things. And it’s obviously our job to figure out how to still be a productive player in different ways.”
Ready to go for spring training and Opening Day in Japan
As I stated earlier with getting the offseason surgery Swanson should be all ready to go for spring training as well as be a full go for the Cub’s opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB Japan Series. Swanson is ready to go and is excited to get back out on the field while being fully healthy coming into spring training.
“That’s the plan,” Swanson said. “It’s a little bit of a different ramp-up than years past because of the series in Japan, but I knew that going into the procedure. I’m just excited to be able to get back out there.”
Swanson will be key for the Cubs this season
With Swanson coming into spring fully healthy and energized, the Cubs could potentially have a bounce-back season offensively from Swanson on top of being outstanding defensively and making a run at his third Gold Glove.
Figuring to be a key cog in the Cubs lineup this season with FanGraphs projecting him to hit fifth having the sixth-best shortstop get back to a somewhat decent hitter will help propel the Cubs to the playoffs.
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