James Dansby Swanson Bio
James Dansby Swanson (born February 11, 1994) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves and was the first overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Swanson has garnered attention both for his play, including being a two-time All-Star and a World Series champion in 2021, and for his personal life, recently marrying professional soccer player Mallory Pugh.
Early Life and Background
Swanson was born on February 11, 1994, in Kennesaw, Georgia. Both of his parents were college athletes at Troy University: his mother Nancy played basketball and tennis, while his father played baseball and served as an assistant coach for the Trojans. Growing up within the Atlanta area, Swanson was a childhood fan of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB) and often attended games at Turner Field. He was a two-sport varsity athlete at Marietta High School in Georgia, playing for both the school’s baseball and basketball teams. During his senior season on the Marietta Blue Devils basketball team, Swanson had a 44 percent three-point field goal shooting rate and averaged 14 points per game. He finished his three-year varsity basketball career with 165 three-pointers, earning the nickname “Three-point Swanson.” The Colorado Rockies selected Swanson in the 38th round of the 2012 MLB Draft, but he opted not to sign with them, instead honoring his commitment to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Swanson had received recruitment offers from several universities, including Troy, Clemson, and Georgia Tech, but he agreed to attend Vanderbilt after a conversation with coach Tim Corbin. A freshman for Vanderbilt’s 2013 season, injuries and youth limited Swanson to only 11 games, four of which he started at shortstop. He underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason to prepare for his sophomore season in 2014.
Path to Baseball
When Tony Kemp left Vanderbilt after the 2014 season, Corbin asked Swanson to become the Commodores’ starting second baseman as a sophomore in 2014. Swanson hit his first collegiate home run on February 28 in the fifth inning of Vanderbilt’s 4–1 win over Stanford. By the end of March, Swanson’s .430 on-base percentage (OBP) was second to shortstop Vince Conde on the Commodores. He finished the regular Southeastern Conference (SEC) season with a team-leading .366 batting average, 47 runs scored, 21 doubles, and 17 stolen bases, and he was an All-SEC First Team selection. Swanson was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player in 2014 when the Commodores won their first-ever national championship. Swanson left Vanderbilt after the 2015 season to join the Diamondbacks and begin his professional baseball career. After one season in Arizona’s farm system, he was traded to the Braves as part of a prospect package sent to Atlanta to acquire Shelby Miller. Swanson made his MLB debut in August 2016 and was the only Atlanta rookie named to the Braves’ 2017 Opening Day roster.
James Dansby Swanson Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Swanson was called up to Atlanta on August 16, 2016, after the Braves traded shortstop Erick Aybar to the Detroit Tigers to clear the position for him. He made his MLB debut that day, recording his first two major league hits, both singles, in a 10–3 loss to the Minnesota Twins. His first major league home run, coming in the second inning of a 9–7 loss to the Washington Nationals on September 6, was an inside-the-park home run. Swanson finished the year with a .302 batting average, three home runs, and 17 RBI. Swanson began the 2017 season as the only rookie on the Braves’ Opening Day roster. However, he struggled both offensively and defensively, leading to a demotion to Triple-A. In 2018, he faced wrist injuries that affected his performance, but he managed to improve defensively. By 2020, Swanson set career highs with a .274 batting average, .345 on-base percentage, and .464 slugging percentage while recording 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
Breakthrough (2021–Present)
Swanson’s breakout season came in 2021 when he played a pivotal role in the Braves’ World Series championship. He recorded a game-tying home run in Game 4 of the World Series and secured the final out of the game to clinch the title. In 2022, he was named to the All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove Award. Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in December 2022. In his first season with the Cubs, he batted .244 with 22 home runs and won his second consecutive Gold Glove.
Notable Works and Milestones
Swanson has been recognized as a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023) and a World Series champion (2021). He has also won the Gold Glove Award twice (2022, 2023), showcasing his defensive prowess at shortstop.
James Dansby Swanson Award Nominations
Throughout his career, James Dansby Swanson has received several nominations, including for the Gold Glove Award and All-Star selections.
James Dansby Swanson Awards Won
James Dansby Swanson has won multiple awards, including two Gold Glove Awards and two All-Star selections, highlighting his achievements in Major League Baseball.
James Dansby Swanson Family
James Dansby Swanson is married to Mallory Pugh, a professional soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars and the United States women’s national soccer team. They married on December 10, 2022.
Personal Life
Swanson suffers from anxiety, which has impacted his performance during his early professional career. He is a devout Christian and credits his faith for helping him through challenging times. Swanson is the youngest of three children, with both of his older siblings having played college sports.