DOB: 02/11/1994
Height/Weight: 6’0” 190 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
BP (27) - 60 hit, 60 speed, 55 glove, 55 arm
Swanson gets the “more floor than ceiling” rap, but that should be viewed as a compliment because there’s as little volatility here as with any shortstop prospect in baseball. The swing is simple, and his ability to repeat it with above-average bat speed and line-drive plane allows him to make solid contact to every part of the field. He’s a very assertive hitter, and while he will jump on the first pitch, he also will work counts and draw plenty of walks. The strength limitations keep the power grade down, but because he transfers his weight and recognizes pitches early, he should be a double-digit homer guy with plenty of doubles thanks to his ability to drive the ball into the right-center gap. He’s also a plus runner, and his smarts on the bases give him 30-steal potential.
Though Swanson was a second baseman until his junior season, you wouldn’t know it from watching him play shortstop. He has excellent instincts, an above-average throwing arm, and shows outstanding footwork. Combined with that plus speed, the overall defensive skill set makes him as close to a lock to stick at the position as you can find. You could move him to anywhere else on the diamond, but I’m not sure why you’d want to.
Is he going to be a star? Probably not, but Swanson owns an incredibly high floor, and he’s the prototypical no. 2 hitter who also can provide above-average defense at a premium position.
Fantasy Impact: The combination of Swanson’s ability to hit for a batting average that flirts with .300 and steal upwards of 25 bases should go a long way towards making fantasy owners forget that he probably won’t hit more than 12-15 homers in a season (especially now that he’s out of Arizona). That said, if he hits those achievable numbers, he’s an easy top-10 shortstop even with this new crop that is taking the game by storm.
MLB.com (8) - Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60
For now, Swanson is known as the first No. 1 overall pick to be traded the year he was drafted, thanks to the new rules governing such moves, getting sent from Arizona to Atlanta in the Shelby Miller trade. Soon, he should be known as the Braves' starting shortstop and perhaps perennial All-Star.
Swanson's pro career with the D-backs didn't start so well, as he was hit in the face by a pitch in a simulated game. It ended with a Northwest League championship. He has grown used to winning and shouldn't take too long to get to Atlanta to try and do it there. Thanks to his quickness, hands and arm strength, Swanson should stay at shortstop long term. He's a very good hitter with an advanced approach at the plate. Swanson should be an average and on-base machine with the ability to steal bases. He showed more power at Vanderbilt in 2015, and he could have Major League average pop when all is said and done.
Advanced college hitters taken at or near the top of the Draft historically have moved quickly. The Braves hope that is the case and that Swanson can continue the winning ways he experienced at Vandy and even during his pro debut.
KLaw (13) -
Swanson was the first pick in the 2015 Rule 4 draft, then became the first No. 1 pick to be traded before his signature could even dry on the contract, thanks to a recent MLB rule change (that allowed such trades) and a Diamondbacks GM with less patience than the average three-year-old. I love Shelby Miller, but trading the first six years of Dansby Swanson's entire career for three years of Miller could come back to bite the Diamondbacks, and quickly.
Swanson is a well-rounded prospect, a true shortstop who can hit, run, has a little pop and should be above-average on defense. He also has a great track record of performing against good competition, including two deep runs at the College World Series with his Vanderbilt teammates. He has solid plate discipline, not outstanding, and you'd like to see a little more contact from a guy who's probably a 12-15 homer hitter at his peak and does more with his legs and OBP than with power. He has the bat speed to be a higher-contact guy, with the ability to catch up to plus velocity. I do think he has .290-.300 average upside with 20-25 steals a year, although I'd like to see Atlanta introduce a minor stride or even a toe-tap to try to get his weight transfer started. At shortstop, he's quick and agile enough to stay at the position, although his arm may be the one tool that holds him back.
At worst, you've got a high-average, plus-running second baseman; at best, you've got all that in a guy who stays at short and maybe surprises you with some power. Either way, six years of that, with Year 1 probably being 2017, is not worth giving up for three years of Miller.
Fangraphs - Hit: 50/60/70 Power: 35/45/55 Run: 55/60/60 Field: 60/65/70 Throw: 60/60/60 FV/Role: 55, Above-average to plus regular
Despite receiving only 99 plate appearances this season after getting drafted number one overall, Swanson showed a lot of promise in Low-A Hillsboro. His swing consists of an excellent hand path built for staying in the contact zone. He has a tendency for his hips to slide forward underneath him, leaving him a bit too reliant on driving balls with strength in his front leg, which contributes to a bat arch that is a little too level for consistent power currently. A club official I spoke to praised Swanson for his work ethic, and asserted his potential to be a 20-homer hitter with some further development. I think he will end up a little below that level, but with plenty of doubles and all-around contributions to be a dynamite player.
Defensively he has excellent feet in the field, allowing his above-average to plus arm play up even higher on bang-bang plays. He is able to get his body moving quickly in any direction, redirecting his momentum very effectively, a true impact player at a premium position.
KLaw (13) -
Swanson was the first pick in the 2015 Rule 4 draft, then became the first No. 1 pick to be traded before his signature could even dry on the contract, thanks to a recent MLB rule change (that allowed such trades) and a Diamondbacks GM with less patience than the average three-year-old. I love Shelby Miller, but trading the first six years of Dansby Swanson's entire career for three years of Miller could come back to bite the Diamondbacks, and quickly.
Swanson is a well-rounded prospect, a true shortstop who can hit, run, has a little pop and should be above-average on defense. He also has a great track record of performing against good competition, including two deep runs at the College World Series with his Vanderbilt teammates. He has solid plate discipline, not outstanding, and you'd like to see a little more contact from a guy who's probably a 12-15 homer hitter at his peak and does more with his legs and OBP than with power. He has the bat speed to be a higher-contact guy, with the ability to catch up to plus velocity. I do think he has .290-.300 average upside with 20-25 steals a year, although I'd like to see Atlanta introduce a minor stride or even a toe-tap to try to get his weight transfer started. At shortstop, he's quick and agile enough to stay at the position, although his arm may be the one tool that holds him back.
At worst, you've got a high-average, plus-running second baseman; at best, you've got all that in a guy who stays at short and maybe surprises you with some power. Either way, six years of that, with Year 1 probably being 2017, is not worth giving up for three years of Miller.
Fangraphs - Hit: 50/60/70 Power: 35/45/55 Run: 55/60/60 Field: 60/65/70 Throw: 60/60/60 FV/Role: 55, Above-average to plus regular
Despite receiving only 99 plate appearances this season after getting drafted number one overall, Swanson showed a lot of promise in Low-A Hillsboro. His swing consists of an excellent hand path built for staying in the contact zone. He has a tendency for his hips to slide forward underneath him, leaving him a bit too reliant on driving balls with strength in his front leg, which contributes to a bat arch that is a little too level for consistent power currently. A club official I spoke to praised Swanson for his work ethic, and asserted his potential to be a 20-homer hitter with some further development. I think he will end up a little below that level, but with plenty of doubles and all-around contributions to be a dynamite player.
Defensively he has excellent feet in the field, allowing his above-average to plus arm play up even higher on bang-bang plays. He is able to get his body moving quickly in any direction, redirecting his momentum very effectively, a true impact player at a premium position.
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