Atlanta Braves: Will The Real Dansby Swanson Please Stand Up?
By Adam Herbert
Which Dansby Swanson will show up in 2018?
The rollercoaster of Swanson’s 2017 season, in which he tumbled from GOAT to goat, would be mentally taxing for anyone. Still, there are positives to be gleaned from this season.
Discounting his stint in the minors, he slashed .260/.355/.369 from 5/1 to 9/9 (arbitrary endpoints beware!), which is not remarkable but looks pristine when compared to his overall season slash of .232/.312/.324. An overall improvement in his full-season BB%-K% from 2016 to 2017 (10.7%/21.8%,
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improved from 9.0%/23.4%), an incremental increase in line drive rate (22.7% to 23.2%), and massive leap in dependability in high leverage situations (.526 OPS in 2016 to .874 OPS in 2017), are all positive building blocks for 2018.
Perhaps the most essential building block of all will come in the form of an intangible. A full season without being touted as the next big thing could do wonders for Swanson. He was the seen as the face of the Braves’ rebuild, and it apparently took its toll.
However, with Albies, Luiz Gohara, Max Fried, and Lucas Sims already in Atlanta, and Ronald Acuña, Mike Soroka, and Kolby Allard set to join the big league club in 2018, the pressure to serve as a figurehead will be alleviated. He can get back to just playing baseball, and not have to play hero.
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One of Swanson’s greatest attributes has always been his balance as a player. He was never slated to be a Correa, Judge, or Bellinger type. Rather, he profiles more as a solid everyday regular with 80-grade makeup and soft-spoken leadership skills. Not everybody is meant to be superstar for the Atlanta Braves; perhaps Swanson is best utilized in a supporting role. His game should see an uptick in 2018 as his focus returns.