Dansby Swanson has been an essential part of the Cubs' elite defense all season long. But the star shortstop hasn't been on the field since suffering an oblique injury on August 16th. The Cubs have made do with the current setup with Hoerner at shortstop and Pedro Ramirez, but they look to be at full strength again as they make their way toward October baseball.
The Cubs have a return plan in place for Dansby Swanson
Swanson was removed from the game on August 16th following a routine swing at the plate. He was in clear discomfort as he stepped out of the box, and he didn't return. But recent updates show that he's been performing workouts, taking batting practice, and seems set to return to the Cubs. Swanson is scheduled for a couple games in Triple-A Iowa, and then, provided everything goes according to plan, he'll be ready to rejoin the show.
One of the hallmarks of the Cubs has been their excellent defensive ability. Multiple pitchers have been quoted this year talking about how incredible it is to play in front of a defense as elite as Chicago's this year. Swanson has been a key part of that defense, and while Ramirez has been excellent, Cubs fans are eager for the return of their primary shortstop.
If Swanson is activated on September 18 as planned, then he'll only have nine regular season games to get himself prepared for October baseball, meaning his two Iowa appearances are just as important as his time in Chicago. The Cubs are tightly locked in a race for the top Wild Card spot, and they could use a boost from their star shortstop.
With a nine-game buffer, Swanson will have the great benefit of having regular season time before he needs to really lock in. The last thing this team needs is one of their more reliable hitters to re-aggrevate a soft tissue injury five minutes before the start of the playoffs.
The Cubs have navigated Swanson's absence, but October will be much less forgiving than the regular season. Getting their defensive anchor healthy and settled before the postseason could make all the difference.
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