Dansby Swanson to Be Called Up from Double-A Mississippi by Braves

The future is set to arrive for the Atlanta Braves.

The team announced Tuesday it will call up infielder Dansby Swanson on Wednesday:

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Swanson out of Vanderbilt with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 MLB draft.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted president of baseball operations John Hart said the 22-year-old will be in the starting lineup Wednesday when the Braves take on the Minnesota Twins.

MLB.com ranks Swanson as the fifth-best prospect in baseball and the best in the Braves’ system. It pointed to his overall quickness and arm strength as reasons he will likely serve as a shortstop at the big league level for years to come and called him “a very good hitter with an advanced approach at the plate.”

According to Bill Baer of NBC Sports, the shortstop position opened up following Atlanta’s decision to trade Erick Aybar to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Swanson slashed an impressive .333/.441/.526 with High-A Carolina and .261/.342/.402 with 45 RBI and 54 runs scored with Double-A Mississippi, per Baer.

The Braves acquired Swanson as part of a return package in the offseason trade that sent pitcher Shelby Miller to Arizona. Miller has been a massive disappointment for Arizona this year after he posted a 3.02 ERA and 1.25 WHIP last season for Atlanta. Miller has a 7.14 ERA and 13 home runs allowed in 14 starts in 2016 and was demoted to the minor leagues for the last-place Diamondbacks.

The Braves also sit in last place in the National League East.

While Swanson gives them a boost, they are not competing for a postseason spot this year. This move indicates the organization has an eye on the future, as the former No. 1 overall pick will have the opportunity to garner valuable major league experience as the potential everyday shortstop as the team rebuilds. 

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