Swanson won’t let contract add pressure to first Cubs season
MESA, Ariz. — When Dansby Swanson sought recommendation or perception from others whereas weighing his choices in free company, many of the conversations centered across the thought of change. This was the Georgia-born child who performed his complete large league profession in Atlanta and grew into a frontrunner and World Series champion for his hometown group.
Leaving the consolation of house was a frightening thought at first, particularly for an individual who thrives on construction and routine. After his morning exercise previous to Thursday’s 11-1 win over the D-backs, Swanson laughed as he defined that he even picked up meals on the identical spot daily in Atlanta.
“Now I’ve got to find my spots in Chicago,” Swanson joked. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
The greatest query is how Swanson will deal with the pressures that include being the de facto face of the franchise for this subsequent part within the Cubs’ timeline. Plenty of strong-minded athletes have struggled with the highlight that comes with a blockbuster contract and the expectation of profitable.
After Jon Lester signed his six-year, $155 million contract with the Cubs previous to the 2015 season, the veteran pitcher admitted that the strain impacted him in his first 12 months. Outfielder Jason Heyward echoed that feeling within the seasons after signing his eight-year, $184 million deal in Chicago.
Swanson’s seven-year, $177 million pact checks in because the second-richest deal in Cubs’ free-agent historical past. As Cubs supervisor David Ross has gotten to know the shortstop because the signing, he has but to really feel the necessity to talk about the inherent strain linked to such a deal.
“He knows himself really well,” Ross stated. “He is aware of what it takes to win and, in case you actually have a look at his journey, there’s been some ups and downs of success and failures to guide him up to now in his life. So he feels very snug in his personal pores and skin. He’s very vocal about what he does nicely and the issues he wants to arrange to be able to play.
“So no, if I ever have some sense of that, I’ll have a conversation, or we can have a chat about some of the things I’ve seen with my experiences. But he’s very, very comfortable in his own skin and has a lot of confidence in himself.”
To Ross’ level, it has taken the 29-year-old Swanson time to turn into the sort of all-around participant worthy of the deal the Cubs handed him over the winter. He was all the time a gifted defender at shortstop, however Swanson’s offensive manufacturing has continued to rise (84 OPS+ from 2016-19 earlier than a 108 OPS+ in ’20-22).
The model of Swanson that Chicago signed is a Gold Glove-winning shortstop who boasts energy (52 homers mixed in ’21-22), velocity (18 steals in ’22) and sturdiness (162 video games in ’22) and has solid a fame as a clubhouse chief and motivator. He was introduced in to assist the Cubs emerge from a rebuild and return to contending.
There is loads of strain packed in there earlier than even discussing cash issues.
“Contract or not, I’ve always had a pressure on myself to perform,” Swanson stated. “No one’s standards will outpace mine for myself and for our team, so the contract part is not something I really look at in terms of that kind of pressure. That’s just not me.”
That has made this spring a sort of early take a look at run for Swanson.
With Thursday’s 0-for-3 displaying, Swanson has gone simply 2-for-34 within the batter’s field in Cactus League play for the Cubs. All the statistics reset to zero when Opening Day arrives, however Swanson remains to be combating by means of the psychological toll poor outcomes can tackle a participant.
“The biggest struggle with spring,” Swanson stated, “is not getting caught up in, like, ‘Oh, am I getting hits or am I not?’ At the end of the day, my biggest thing has been, ‘Am I swinging at the right pitches?’ And I would say that’s a yes for me. The timing is just a tick late.”
In current days, the Cubs allowed Swanson to convey his personal hitting coach in for some periods within the cage. Between that exterior assist and the Cubs’ hitting group, Swanson is assured he has discovered the supply of his points in his stance setup.
It has been only one extra problem for Swanson forward of this vital season.
“The beauty of it all, too,” Swanson stated, “is I feel like being in Chicago is going to grow me more than I could ever imagine. That’s part of what I’ve asked for, right. I’m very appreciative and thankful for any type of successes, challenges, struggles or anything like that.”
