The Atlanta Braves made two of the biggest trades this offseason, one of which netted them top prospect Dansby Swanson, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft. Rumors suggest the Braves feel the soon-to-be 22-year-old will be a full-time contributor by the 2017 season.
Swanson was part of a hefty return Atlanta received for starter Shelby Miller in the big trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has yet to play in the Braves' organization, but in just 22 games at Class Short-Season A Hillsboro, Swanson hit .289/.394/.482 with 19 runs scored, 1 home run and 11 RBI in 83 at-bats in what was his first professional action.
Swanson is the Braves' No. 1 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, and the team expects a lot from him as they prepare to open their new stadium shortly before the 2017 season.
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves think Swanson "could be ready to move into the lineup by 2017," although it's unclear what position he'll be playing. O'Brien says there's a possibility Swanson could move to second base depending on how he and fellow top shortstop prospect Ozhaino Albies progress through the minors.
The Braves have been under heavy scrutiny for trading away so many young, talented players, but general manager John Coppolella is confident in the team's plan despite finishing with the third-worst record in the MLB last season. He even alludes to the fact that some of the newly acquired prospects - including Swanson - could see MLB action next year.
"I think (those trades) accelerated our progress," the GM told Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "In a lot of the trades we made in the 2014-2015 offseason, the players were a lot further away. With these two trades [with the Diamondbacks and Angels], you really got six players you could see (in Atlanta) in 2016. A lot of the deals we made last year ... were more to restart the system than have major-league impact in the short term."
Rumors indicate the Braves expect higher revenues and payrolls starting in 2017, so once the top prospects are ready to make a splash in the MLB, Coppolella will waste no time in bringing in the right free agents to round off the roster.
Look for Swanson to be one of the cornerstone players of this group.
