Dansby Swanson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dansby Swanson
Swanson with the Atlanta Braves in 2021
Chicago Cubs – No. 7
Shortstop
Born: (1994-02-11) February 11, 1994 (age 31) Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
August 17, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics (through July 23, 2025)
Batting average	.252
Hits	1,141
Home runs	156
Runs batted in	604
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2016–2022) Chicago Cubs (2023–present)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2022, 2023) World Series champion (2021) 2× Gold Glove Award (2022, 2023) Brooks Wallace Award (2015)
Medals Men's baseball Representing USA Haarlem Baseball Week Gold 2014 Haarlem Team

James Dansby Swanson (born February 11, 1994) is an American professional baseball shortstop who plays for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball (MLB). He used to play for the Atlanta Braves. The Arizona Diamondbacks chose him as the very first player in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Dansby grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, and loved the Braves. He was a great athlete in high school, playing both baseball and basketball. He was even called "Three-point Swanson" because of his basketball skills! Instead of joining a pro team right after high school, he decided to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. He helped his college team win their first national championship and was named the best player in the College World Series in 2014.

After college, Swanson started his professional career. He was traded to the Braves in 2015 and made his MLB debut in 2016. He helped the Braves win the 2021 World Series, their first championship since 1995. He has also won two Gold Glove Awards for being an excellent defensive player. In 2022, he joined the Chicago Cubs.

Early life and high school 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 baseball team. He often went to their games.

At Marietta High School, Dansby was a star in two sports: baseball and basketball. In basketball, he was known for his three-point shots, earning him the nickname "Three-point Swanson." He made 165 three-pointers during his high school career!

College baseball career

The Colorado Rockies drafted Dansby in 2012, but he chose not to sign with them. Instead, he decided to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He had offers from many universities but chose Vanderbilt after talking with coach Tim Corbin.

Freshman year and injuries

In his first year at Vanderbilt in 2013, Dansby played in only 11 games because of injuries. He broke a bone in his foot and later tore a shoulder muscle. He had surgery on his shoulder and worked hard to get ready for his next season.

Becoming a national champion

In 2014, Dansby became the starting second baseman for Vanderbilt. He hit his first college home run that year. He had a fantastic season, leading his team with a .366 batting average. He was chosen for the All-SEC First Team.

Vanderbilt went on to win their first-ever national championship in the College World Series! They beat Virginia 3–2 in the finals. Dansby was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player for his great hitting and defense.

Moving to shortstop

For the 2015 season, Dansby moved to shortstop. He continued to play very well, leading his conference with 60 runs scored. He was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the best college baseball player. He also won the Brooks Wallace Award as the best college shortstop in the country.

Vanderbilt made it back to the College World Series finals in 2015, but they lost to Virginia this time.

Professional baseball career

Starting with the Diamondbacks (2015)

The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Dansby as the first overall player in the 2015 MLB Draft. This was a big deal because it was the first time a college shortstop was drafted first since 1974! He signed with the team and got a $6.5 million bonus.

His professional debut was delayed when he was accidentally hit in the face by a fastball during practice, causing a concussion. After he recovered, he played for the Hillsboro Hops, a minor league team. He played in 22 games and helped them win a championship.

Joining the 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 Dansby and two other players in exchange for pitcher Shelby Miller. The Braves were rebuilding their team, and they wanted talented young players like Dansby.

Dansby started the 2016 season in the minor leagues with the Carolina Mudcats and then the Mississippi Braves. He played very well, hitting .333 with 12 doubles for the Mudcats.

Making his MLB debut

Dansby Swanson with the Braves during spring training in 2016

Dansby was called up to the Atlanta Braves on August 16, 2016. He made his MLB debut that day, getting his first two hits. His first major league home run was an inside-the-park home run on September 6! He finished the 2016 season hitting .302.

Dealing with injuries and improving

Dansby was the only rookie on the Braves' Opening Day roster in 2017. He struggled a bit at first, but he improved later in the season. In 2018, he dealt with wrist and hand injuries that affected his playing. He had surgery on his wrist in November 2018.

Dansby Swanson with the Braves in 2019

In 2019, with his wrist feeling better, Dansby started the season strong. He hit 17 home runs and had 57 RBI by the All-Star break. He later injured his heel but returned to play. He played in his first postseason in 2019 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2020 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dansby played in all 60 games and had a great year, setting career highs in batting average (.274) and slugging percentage (.464). He hit 10 home runs and scored 49 runs, which was third-best in MLB. The Braves made it to the National League Championship Series but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

World Series champions!

Dansby Swanson with the Braves in 2021

In 2021, Dansby started slowly but improved as the season went on. On June 3, he got his 500th career MLB hit, which was a long home run! He hit his first major league grand slam on July 22. He hit another grand slam the next week, tying the Braves' shortstop record for home runs in a season. He then broke that record, finishing with 27 home runs.

The Braves won their division in 2021. Dansby played a key role in the playoffs, especially with his defense. In Game 4 of the 2021 World Series, with the Braves down, Dansby hit a game-tying home run! The Braves went on to win that game and then won Game 6 to become World Series champions! It was the Braves' first championship since 1995.

In 2022, Dansby was named an All-Star for the first time. He was the only player in MLB to start all 162 games that season. He hit his 100th career home run on September 30, 2022. After the season, he won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at shortstop.

Playing for the Chicago Cubs (2023–present)

On December 21, 2022, Dansby Swanson signed a seven-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. In his first season with the Cubs in 2023, he was named an All-Star for the second time! He hit 22 home runs and won his second straight Gold Glove Award.

In 2024, Dansby continued to play well, hitting 16 home runs. He was a finalist for the Gold Glove award again.

Playing for Team USA

In 2014, Dansby represented USA Baseball at Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands. He played very well, leading the team with a .458 batting average in his first six games. The US team won the gold medal, beating Japan 6–3.

Personal life

Dansby Swanson married Mallory Pugh, 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 is the youngest of three children. Both of his older siblings also played college sports. Dansby's first name is James; Dansby is his mother's maiden name.

Dansby has spoken about dealing with anxiety and how his Christian faith helps him.

See also

In Spanish: Dansby Swanson para niños