Obviously, Swanson’s wrist was a factor in his relatively poor results at the plate last season. He started hot, batting .358 through the first 16 games of the season. After his first wrist injury, he cooled off significantly, ending the season with a .238 batting average.
The wrist did not seem to have much effect on Dansby’s defense. In 2017, his first full season, he had an abysmal -7 defensive runs saved (DRS). Last season, he achieved an elite 10 DRS, enough for sixth-best in the league. If Swanson maintains his defensive prowess in 2019 and can improve at the plate, he could become one of the MLB’s most valuable shortstops.
The team still has not given Swanson clearance to face live pitching since undergoing surgery last November to repair the torn ligament in his hand. He has, however been cleared to hit off a tee and take soft toss and batting practice. The Braves are ramping him up slowly, so he will likely sit out a portion of the team’s Grape Fruit League games. If all goes according to plan, he is expected to be available for the Braves’ season opener against the Phillies on March 28th.
- Mike Soroka’s Shoulder
Mike Soroka is one of the Braves’ many highly touted pitching prospects. He made his MLB debut in early May last season. On May 14th, he was placed on the 10-day DL with shoulder discomfort.
After a few rehab starts in the minors, he made two more big-league starts. His velocity was down and his shoulder discomfort had returned, so the team placed him on the 10-day DL once again. In June, he was moved to the 60-day DL. By August, he was shut down for the season.
It looks like the fifth spot in the Braves’ rotation this year is going to be wide open, barring a trade or free agent acquisition. Many believe Soroka has a chance to claim that fifth spot, as he has shown high upside when healthy. His health, however appears to be in jeopardy once again.
The Braves shut Soroka down once more last Tuesday. The culprit was again shoulder discomfort. Soroka claims his current injury is unrelated to the one that shut him down last season. He attributes it to the vigorous overload training he was doing in January, and says the discomfort is in a different muscle than the one he experienced it in last season.
The Braves are expecting Soroka to continue his spring training regimen this week, and still plan on giving him some action in Grape Fruit League games. His outlook appears to be positive, but shoulder injuries have a tendency to linger. This will be a story line to follow throughout spring training
The Braves are expecting Soroka to continue his spring training regimen this week, and still plan on giving him some action in Grape Fruit League games. His outlook appears to be positive, but shoulder injuries have a tendency to linger. This will be a story line to follow throughout spring training.
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