Atlanta Braves: Is Calling up Dansby Swanson the Right Move?

The Atlanta Braves will be promoting top prospect Dansby Swanson to the big leagues Wednesday to make his Major League debut. Are they rushing the development of their prized young shortstop?

The 2016 campaign has been a rough season for Atlanta Braves fans. Following an offseason that was headlined by trades involving beloved stars Andrelton Simmons and Shelby Miller, Atlanta has stumbled to the tune of a league-worst 44-75 record. While the production at the Major League level has sharply declined over the past three seasons, however, the Braves have slowly been compiling an impressive farm system.

At the forefront of their farm system stands 2015 No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson, whom the Braves acquired from Arizona in the Miller deal. Ranked 12^th on ESPN analyst Keith Law’s Midseason Top 50, Swanson is highly regarded for his potential both with the bat and on the basepaths. His numbers indicate 20/20 potential, something the Braves’ lineup could certainly use in front of stars Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp in the next few years.

After crushing 13 extra-base hits for High-A Carolina in 21 games to start the season, Swanson was promoted to Double-A Mississippi. He slumped big early, but overall has posted a modest .261/.342/.402 slash line with eight home runs, six stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 84.

Now, fourteen months after he was drafted by Arizona, the Braves will be calling Swanson up to make his Major League debut against the Twins Wednesday night.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Amidst fellow 2015 first-round pick Alex Bregman’s immense struggles at the plate this season, Atlanta’s sudden addition of Swanson to the 40-man roster is a questionable move. Still an unpolished talent, Swanson has yet to dominate any level of professional baseball above the High-A Carolina League. His strikeout rate in Double-A (18.8 percent) is much higher than his profile would suggest. In addition, after swiping seven bags in 21 games prior to the promotion, Swanson has only stolen six bases in four times as many games for Mississippi.

Next: Could Zach Britton Win the Cy Young?

The Braves need a distraction from all the losses they’ve been piling up this season, and understandably so. Appeasing the fans, however, should not come at the expense of the development of a prospect—especially one of Dansby Swanson’s caliber. The team is not looking to win right now. By calling up Swanson this early, they are gambling with their future. Hopefully for the Braves, this move doesn’t come back to bite them.