The Timeline Shift
Most fans expected Dansby Swanson to miss a full month after his left oblique strain. The original plan set the return date for late September. Instead, the manager says he could be back in the lineup next Friday. That is a massive shift from the four-week projection given in August. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Friday that the veteran shortstop is moving closer to rejoining the team. This week, he will finish a brief minor-league rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa. If things go right, Swanson will play in Cincinnati against the division-rival Reds.
This quick return defies the standard recovery path for a Grade 2 oblique strain. On Aug. 17, Swanson entered the injured list following an awkward swing. ESPN reported that four weeks was the anticipated absence for him. Now, the timeline would land at about 4.5 weeks. Counsell stated that unless a setback occurs, Swanson would play rehab games for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and Wednesday, then be activated Friday in Cincinnati. The speed of his recovery suggests the injury was not as severe as feared.
Numbers Tell the Story
The stats show a player who struggled before the injury but has the tools to help the team. In 119 games this season, Swanson is batting .216 with 66 RBIs and 18 homers. His slash line sits at .216/.300/.404 with a .704 OPS. He has 17 stolen bases and 78 runs scored in 403 at-bats. While some critics call the season a disappointment, the power numbers remain solid. During the second half of the season, the two-time All-Star has managed only two home runs.
Defense is the other side of the equation. With a .987 fielding percentage, Swanson has appeared at shortstop in 117 games this season. “When you’re missing a defender like Dansby, your defense is going to get worse,” Counsell noted. With Swanson out of action, Nico Hoerner, who has won two Gold Gloves at second base, moved to shortstop. The Cubs need their primary defender back to stabilize the infield before the playoffs. According to the Chicago Tribune, Swanson is slated to use a Trajekt machine for hitting at Wrigley Field this weekend and participate in further hitting drills.
The Final Stretch
The team faces a tight window to get him ready. “There’s not a lot of time left, so the plan would be early next week and then we’ll just go from there,” Counsell said. The goal is to have him active for the final nine games of the regular season. This limits his fantasy value, but the real value lies in the playoffs. During the weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, the 32-year-old infielder would continue training with the Cubs.
Everyone’s healthy right now, and so that’s awesome. Swanson stated, “I’m enjoying it, and I’d love to enjoy it a lot more through October” while the team seeks a limited role for him to prevent re-injury. “But we’re going to do less games than more for sure,” he added. The focus is on getting him back on the field without rushing the process too far. Just got to want it, just got to really want it. The Cubs need every bit of help they can get for the final push.
