Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: maybe Dansby Swanson deserves a break

If nothing else, you’ve got to confer the title of ‘gamer’ on Swanson since he basically played most of the 2018 season one-handed.

It was the left wrist of the Atlanta Braves‘ shortstop.  Had it been his throwing hand, Dansby Swanson would have been compelled to give up on the season and get the repair done.

That might have been the prudent thing to do anyway, but but for a competitor… and a young one trying to justify his place on the roster… it’s really hard to even get an admission that there’s a problem, much less to relent and go onto the disabled list.

That did happen – Swanson was sat down for half of May with the wrist problem, but then had to yield again late in the season when an MRI showed a ligament tear.

The story from Dave O’Brien in TheAthletic (subscription required) records the full account of the origin – that crazy-frigid game in Chicago – and the aftermath.

The upshot is that Swanson was playing with a ‘ball’ of loose cartilage roving about in his wrist.  It hurt, it caused swelling at times, and it even locked up on occasion.

But… offense?

Yeah – he only hit .238.  That was after a .287 April start… and he was hurt in mid-April.  It’s a wonder he could swing the bat that well… and it’s likely that his dominant (right hand) was only able to really take over on the inside pitches that he was known for drilling to the left field corner.

On pitches up and in?  Swanson hit a blistering .482.  On those low and away?  Under .100 for those out of the strike zone.

But now the repair is done.  Hopefully, that eliminates the pain, provides full motion, and full control of the hand.  Certainly, the analytics will demand that opponents test that extra-outside corner until he proves he can lay off the pitch.

I’ll admit it:  I was starting to wonder if Swanson shouldn’t spend so much time in front of a camera this off-season and perhaps should be under a stadium in a batting cage instead.

Then Dave O’Brien set me straight.

I’ll apologize in absentia for that thought, though with this advice:  this season, the Braves will have the depth that was… a bit sketchy at times last year.  If something hurts during this coming season, it’s okay to get that checked out, for your teammates will definitely have your back.

Meanwhile, I am definitely looking forward to seeing what a fully healthy Dansby Swanson can do at the plate.  He’s earned the right to find out – for sure.