Dansby Swanson has been extremely durable and played in over 145 games for the third consecutive season since joining the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 2023 MLB season. While he’s never been a player who’s known for hitting for average, his numbers continue to fall short of what he did during his tenure with the Atlanta Braves.
The numbers tell the whole story. Swanson hit .277 with a .776 OPS in his final year with the Braves, but he hasn’t posted a batting average above .245 or an OPS above .750 in any of the three seasons he’s played in Chicago.
The 2025 season was far from his best. Even though he had 24 homers, 24 doubles, and 20 steals, Swanson’s tendency to chase and strike out continues to plague him.
The 10-year veteran slashed .244/.300/.417 with a .717 OPS, 24 homers, 24 doubles, three triples, 77 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 2025. Could 2026 be the year in which he finally hits over .250 as a member of the Cubs?
What to Expect From Dansby Swanson in 2026 Fantasy Baseball
The first thing we need to note regarding Swanson ahead of the 2026 season is that he’s willing to make changes to his approach. According to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network, Swanson is willing to sacrifice some power if that means hitting for a higher average in 2026.
The reasoning for this move is simple. Even though Swanson has hit at least 22 homers in four of his last five seasons, he also owns a strikeout rate north of 25% in that span.
Thus, the veteran shortstop is willing to make changes in order to hit for at least .250, something he hasn’t done in each of the last three seasons. As smart as that new approach sounds, it’s unclear whether it’ll make a big difference in what Swanson brings to the table.
Swanson finished outside the top 12 in fantasy in 2025, and it wouldn’t be surprising if that outcome happens again in 2026. He’s slated to hit at the bottom of the Cubs’ lineup once again, thus limiting his potential for production in the RBI department.
While he’s had at least 20 homers and 20 doubles in four of his last five seasons, the lack of average limits his upside. He did record a career-high 20 stolen bases in 2025, but that was more a product of the team’s aggressive approach rather than an individual improvement.
Swanson is a player worth rostering across all formats, even if his lack of positional eligibility limits him in most. However, even if he changes his approach for the 2026 season, he’s nowhere near some of the best shortstops in the game. He’s a solid backup alternative in fantasy, but you can go with a better option for your everyday role in what’s one of the most loaded positions in baseball ahead of the 2026 fantasy season.
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