NEW YORK -- Entering the four-game series against the Mets, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was having a rough first half of the season. He had a slash line of .183/.292/.325.
Three days later, Swanson is living the dream and the Cubs haven’t even played the fourth game yet. In the first three games, Swanson had 15 RBIs, the most by any player in a series against the Mets. Eleven of those RBIs came during the day/night doubleheader on Wednesday at Citi Field.
“He did everything today. It’s really [expletive] cool for me to watch,” teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong told MLB.com.
On top of that, Swanson is also the first MLB player to reach 15 RBIs in a series since 2016, when Danny Espinosa of the Nationals tallied as many against the Reds from June 30-July 3. The eruption at the plate has Swanson over the Mendoza Line for the first time since May 10. He now has a .202 batting average.
Crow-Armstrong is not surprised about Swanson’s recent dominance in the batter’s box. Swanson’s work ethic before games has a lot to do with it.
“Like I said, he is doing the right work,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He has really bought into the process right now. You don’t always see results as immediately like he is right now. But ever since he put his mind to what he has been doing recently, he has just benefitted from that. He is letting his ability play. Many of the starting shortstops would love to have a day like that. He is a special player.”
According to Crow-Armstrong, Swanson’s demeanor never changed after his slow start.
“He has been steady Eddie. He has been the same guy every day, showing up and being there for us,” Crow-Armstrong said.
