Dansby Swanson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dansby Swanson |
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Swanson with the Atlanta Braves in 2021
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| Chicago Cubs – No. 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Shortstop | ||||||||||||||
| Born: February 11, 1994 Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| August 17, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .252 | |||||||||||||
| Hits | 1,042 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 140 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 557 | |||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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James Dansby Swanson (born February 11, 1994) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Cubs, he played for the Atlanta Braves. He was the very first player chosen in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dansby grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, and loved the Braves. His parents were college athletes. In high school, he was great at both baseball and basketball. He even got the nickname "Three-point Swanson" for his basketball skills! The Colorado Rockies picked him in the 2012 MLB Draft, but Dansby decided to go to college instead. He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
After some injuries in his first year, Dansby became a star player. He helped Vanderbilt win their first-ever national championship in 2014. He was even named the best player of the College World Series that year. He later won the Brooks Wallace Award as the best college shortstop. After college, he started his professional career. He was traded to the Braves in 2015 and made his MLB debut in 2016. Dansby helped the Braves win the 2021 World Series, which was their first championship since 1995! He is married to Chicago Red Stars soccer player Mallory Swanson.
Contents
Early Life and Sports
Dansby Swanson was born on February 11, 1994, in Kennesaw, Georgia. Both of his parents were college athletes. His mom played basketball and tennis, and his dad played baseball. Growing up near Atlanta, Dansby was a big fan of the Atlanta Braves. He often went to their games.
Dansby was a two-sport athlete at Marietta High School. He played both baseball and basketball. In his senior year of basketball, he was known for his three-point shots. He made 165 three-pointers in his high school career! This earned him the nickname "Three-point Swanson."
College Baseball Career
The Colorado Rockies drafted Dansby in 2012, but he chose to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. He had offers from many schools but picked Vanderbilt after talking with coach Tim Corbin. In his first year (2013), injuries kept him from playing much. He broke a bone in his foot and later tore a shoulder muscle. He had surgery and worked hard to get ready for his second season.
In 2014, Dansby became the starting second baseman for Vanderbilt. He hit his first college home run in February. He was one of the best players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Vanderbilt won their first national championship by beating Virginia in the College World Series. Dansby was named the best player of the series for his hitting and defense.
For the 2015 season, Dansby moved to shortstop. He continued to play very well, leading the SEC in runs scored. He was a finalist for top college baseball awards like the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. He won the Brooks Wallace Award as the best college shortstop. Vanderbilt made it to the College World Series finals again but lost to Virginia.
Professional Baseball Journey
Arizona Diamondbacks (2015)
The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Dansby as the first overall player in the 2015 MLB Draft. This was a big deal, as it was the first time a college shortstop was drafted first in a long time. He signed with the team in July. Before he could play, he was hit in the face by a fastball during practice. This caused a concussion and needed stitches.
After recovering, Dansby started playing for the Hillsboro Hops, a minor league team. He played 22 games there, hitting well and helping his team win a championship.
Atlanta Braves (2016–2022)
In December 2015, Dansby was traded to the Atlanta Braves. This was part of a big trade where the Braves got him and other young players. The Braves were rebuilding their team.
Dansby started the 2016 season in the minor leagues. He played for the Carolina Mudcats and then the Mississippi Braves. He was doing so well that the Braves called him up to the major leagues on August 16, 2016. He got his first two MLB hits that day! His first MLB home run was an inside-the-park one, which is very rare! He finished his first MLB season hitting .302.
Early Years and Injuries
In 2017, Dansby was the only rookie on the Braves' Opening Day roster. He had a tough start, struggling with his hitting and defense. He was sent back to the minor leagues for a short time to get more playing time. He came back to the Braves in August and played better. He finished the season hitting .232.
The 2018 season was also difficult for Dansby due to injuries. He had pain in his left wrist and hand. He missed games and had surgery on his wrist after the season. Despite the injuries, his defense at shortstop improved a lot.
Growing Success and World Series
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In 2019, Dansby felt much better after his wrist surgery. He started the season very strong, hitting many home runs. By the All-Star break, he had 17 home runs. However, he injured his heel in July and missed about a month of games. He finished the season hitting .251 with 17 home runs. He played in his first postseason games that year.
The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dansby played in all 60 games and had a great year. He hit a walk-off home run in August, winning a game for the Braves. He set new career highs in batting average (.274) and runs scored (49). The Braves made it to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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In 2021, Dansby started slowly but improved as the season went on. He hit his first major league grand slam in July. He hit another grand slam the next week! He set a new record for most home runs by a Braves shortstop in one season with 27. He played in 160 games, more than anyone else in the National League.
The Braves won their division in 2021. Dansby played a key role in their postseason run. In the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros, he hit a game-tying home run in Game 4. The Braves went on to win the World Series, their first championship since 1995!
In 2022, Dansby was named an All-Star. He hit his 100th career home run. He was the only player in MLB to start all 162 games that season. After the season, he won his first Gold Glove Award for being an excellent defensive shortstop.
Chicago Cubs (2023–present)
In December 2022, Dansby signed a seven-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. In his first season with the Cubs (2023), he was named an All-Star again. He hit 22 home runs and won his second straight Gold Glove Award. In 2024, he continued to play well, hitting 16 home runs.
Playing for Team USA
In 2014, Dansby played for USA Baseball at Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands. He was one of the best hitters on the team. Team USA won the gold medal by beating Japan. He also played in a series against Cuba.
Personal Life
Dansby Swanson married Mallory Swanson, a professional soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars and the United States women's national soccer team, on December 10, 2022. They met through Dansby's former teammate, Jace Peterson, who is Mallory's brother-in-law.
Dansby's first name is James, but he uses his middle name, Dansby, which is his mother's maiden name. He is the youngest of three children. His older brother and sister also played college sports.
Dansby has talked about dealing with anxiety. He says his Christian faith helps him through tough times.
Images for kids
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Swanson with the Atlanta Braves in 2021
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Swanson with the Braves during spring training in 2016
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Swanson with the Braves in 2019
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Swanson with the Braves in 2021
