Atlanta Braves Nick Swisher Talks on His Chop ”I Got To Second Base and Just Kind of Blacked Out”

Nick Swisher joined the Atlanta Braves on Saturday August 8th and immediately made his appearance known to the organization and the fan-base.  In the bottom of the 7th inning, Swisher hit a line drive between left field and center for a two-RBI double.  Once he got to second base, Swisher looked towards the fans and his new teammates in the dugout and did a tomahawk chop.  The fans went nuts in the stadium and got everyone talking.

The Cleveland Indians traded Swisher, Michael Bourn and $15 million for infielder Chris Johnson last Saturday… plus a pile of cash…

Both Swisher and Bourn have contracts in place for the 2016 and have vesting options for the 2017 season.  To look at this trade and not think the Braves won would be a clear misread…in my opinion.

Since being traded to the Indians, Johnson is 7-9 at the plate with two doubles and three runs scored.  Maybe a change of scenery is all he needed…but let’s not look back.

The Braves have yet to get the same production from their two players, but I have a feeling Johnson will cool off and the Braves will benefit in the long run.  Both Bourn and Swisher are 1-10 at the plate since joining the Braves.   What Swisher brings to this organization and locker room is enthusiastic energy and leadership.  He’ll get this team fired up when they need it.  A.J Pierzynski and Nick Markakis bring leadership to this team in other ways, but Swisher is an entire different beast.

Swisher, 34-years-old, underwent arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees last August and hit the DL again because of his knees in June of 2015.  Hopefully his knees hold up and can be production for the Braves.

He recently spoke about the tomahawk chop he had at second after the double as well as joining the Braves organization with Fox Sports South.