Atlanta Braves: Dansby Swanson Primed to Breakout in 2020

Dansby Swanson showed some progress last year, but there are signs he could be on the verge of a breakout.

That would obviously be the best-case scenario for the Atlanta Braves in a shortened 2020 season, to see the former number one overall pick finally bust out as a big-league hitter.

It’s true that Dansby Swanson has been somewhat of a complicated player to measure to this point in his still-young career.

There’s no question that Swanson has solidified his reputation as an above-average fielding shortstop, as well as a great baserunner.

It’s at the plate, however, that the Kennesaw, Ga. native has fallen shy of lofty expectations in his first few seasons as a major leaguer.

Being the first overall pick out of Vanderbilt and drawing comparisons to Derek Jeter (far too early) will, of course, set the bar at a towering height.

It also didn’t help matters that Dansby Swanson’s debut season got off to such a productive start.

In his first 38 games played of his big-league career, all coming late in 2016, Swanson – just 22 years old at the time – hit above .300 with a 107 wRC+, swelling the expectations going into the 2017 campaign.

That hot start did not carry over to his first full season with Atlanta, as Swanson struggled mightily to the tune of a .232 BA and a  poor wRC+ of 64.

2018 was also a year of disappointment – offensively – for the Atlanta Braves shortstop, mostly as a result of a lingering wrist injury that clearly impacted Swanson’s swing at the plate.

Thankfully, the injury in 2018 had no real impact on Swanson’s defensive play, which was nothing short of terrific as he totaled 10 defensive runs saved (DRS) for the season and asserted himself as one of the slicker gloves at shortstop in the National League.

Even more, thankfully, the wrist injury was taken care of at the conclusion of the 2018 season, providing Dansby Swanson with the hope of taking steps forward entering 2019.