WATCH: Dansby Swanson Clubs First Home Run of Spring
Danby Swanson is off the schneid.
The 29-year-old launched his first home run as a member of the Chicago Cubs in MLB Spring Training off an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday.
In the first year of a seven-year contract, Swanson got off to a horribly slow start this year. Including his home run on Sunday, he's 4-for-40 (.100) in the exhibition.
Cubs manager David Ross indicated earlier in the month that the former Atlanta Brave was still looking to lock down his timing.
He found it on Sunday.
“It kind of got me going a little, I’ll say that,” Swanson said after the team's 5-0 win. “It felt great, obviously. Anytime you can start to feel like you’re getting right on track for the start of the season is a big deal. So, I’m just excited that I contributed a little bit.”
Swanson finished the day 1-for-3 at the plate and continued to show off his Gold Glove-winning defense at shortstop, fielding a ball deep in the hole and tossing it over to first base for the out.
With the Kansas City Royals threatening in the seventh inning, the Vanderbilt product fielded a ball up the middle, tossing a backhand throw to Nico Hoerner at second to record at least one out.
Swanson has hits in back-to-back games, giving him plenty of confidence heading into Opening Day.
Since his spring debut, he's been working toward a more aggressive plate approach, and it's finally paying off.
”It’s always beneficial for me because I can be a little bit passive at times. And it’s just something we’ve worked on and talked about more and more in the cage," he said.
Swanson wasn't the only Cub to homer on Sunday.
Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger each launched their third home runs of the spring, backing Justin Steele's final tuneup before the regular season.
The Cubs' lefty pitched 6.0 strong innings, allowing only four hits and fanning six batters.
After Steele exited, the bullpen kept the game relatively uneventful. Keegan Thompson cruised through an inning of work, allowing the Royals' final hit of the game.
Mark Leiter Jr. and Tyler Duffey put the finishing touches on it, both tossing clean innings.
The Cubs will wrap up their spring schedule with two games against the White Sox beginning Monday.
More From SI's Inside The Cubs
- Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?
- Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?
- Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future
- Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September
- Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?
- Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings
- Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?
- Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation
- Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?
- Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field
Make sure to follow Inside the Cubs on Twitter!
