2019 MLB season overreactions: Reflections from Opening Week
By David Hill
Dansby Swanson is emerging as another young star for the Atlanta Braves
Dansby Swanson was one of the top prospects in baseball, a consensus top ten overall prospect heading into the 2017 campaign. However, he had not been able to carry that status over to the major league level.
Expected to be a future star, Swanson struggled as a rookie, and then underwhelmed last season. Between 2017 and 2018, he had produced a combined .235/.308/.359 batting line, hitting 20 homers and 48 doubles. His defense at short improved from 2017 to 2018, as he was 12 runs better, but the Braves expected more from the former top prospect.
That breakout may well be happening. Entering action on Sunday, he had posted a solid .318/.467/.636 batting line, hitting two homers and drawing six walks in 30 plate appearances. His defensive improvements have continued as well, as Swanson has already saved two runs on the year.
Sometimes, it just takes a little longer for a top prospect to break out. Even with his struggles, Swanson had displayed a solid batting eye, making contact and drawing walks at an above average rate. And, he had a strong Spring Training, with a .353/.421/.559 batting line in 38 plate appearances.
It had seemed as though the ceiling for Dansby Swanson had dropped to being an Andrelton Simmons type of player. However, his hot start to the 2019 MLB season is fueling the hopes that he is indeed in the midst of his breakout campaign.