Atlanta Braves: What to Expect from Dansby Swanson

The Atlanta Braves have high expectations for Dansby Swanson. What should we expect from the young shortstop?

The Atlanta Braves have high expectations for Dansby Swanson and rightly so considering the talent that Swanson flashed the last two months of the regular season.  It is important to remember this season however, that Swanson is learning on the job and will have bumps in the road.

Swanson joined the Braves in a trade that sent Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for a haul of prospects that are now an important part of the Braves core group of players. Ender Inciarte joined the Braves on the same deal and is expected to be a part of the Braves outfield for a long time to come.

Dansby Swanson had three homers while hitting .302 in his first 129 at-bats at the Major League level. While these numbers may be impressive it is doubtful that Swanson will maintain them over a long season considering the adjustments that pitchers and the rookie hitter will have to make.

Swanson is a dependable defender with above average bat speed that isn’t going to result in a lot of long balls but solid contact nonetheless. Swanson was ranked among Major League Baseball’s top prospects and should much like Inciarte be with the Braves for a very long time to come.

The Braves should expect Swanson to hit .260-.280 with some cold spells as adjustments will have to be made the first year of his career. His power numbers are harder to predict considering the fact the Braves are headed to a new ballpark and Swanson has had inconsistent power in his short career.

It is safe to assume that the young shortstop will develop into a 15-20 home-run hitter with a high average but for now Swanson shouldn’t be expected to put up those numbers in his first season. Braves fans have a lot to look forward to watching Swanson in the seasons to come.

Next: Braves Off-season Targets

Final projected stats: .276/.350, 12 home-runs, 65 Runs-batted in, and 145 hits.