Dansby Swanson Returns from IL, Helps Cubs Beat Cardinals

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson returned to the starting lineup on Saturday against St. Louis, as he was activated from the 10-day injured list.

The Cubs placed Swanson on the injured list on July 8 with a left heel contusion, suffered against Milwaukee on July 5. It was his first injury since signing a long-term deal with the Cubs in the offseason. The injury prevented him from fully participating in the All-Star Game, where he made his second appearance.

To make room for Swanson, the Cubs sent Jared Young back to Triple-A Iowa. Interestingly, the player that replaced Swanson — Miles Mastrobuoni — remained with the Cubs.

Swanson started at shortstop and batted sixth for the Cubs against the Cardinals. At the plate, he got right to work, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one runs scored in the Cubs’ 8-6 win.

In his first at-bat in the second inning, Swanson doubles to right field to give the Cubs a baserunner, and then he scored on Christopher Morel’s single, tying the game at 1-1.

In the third, Swanson tied the game with a ground ball to center field, which scored Ian Happ and made it 3-3.

Tied in the third! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Fe3nRlVsC6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2023

The Cardinals finally got Swanson out in the fifth, as he popped out to his Cardinals counterpart Paul DeJong. In the sixth, with the Cubs up 8-6, Swanson was hit by a pitch with one out. He was stranded at first.

It took until the sixth inning for Swanson to handle his first chance, as he threw out the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado on a groundout. He did the same to Tyler O’Neill in the seventh before a rain delay stopped the game going into the bottom of that inning.

More than an hour later, the game resumed. Swanson handled another chance cleanly in the eighth and then struck out of the bottom half of that frame.

Entering his return, Swanson was slashing .258/.343/.409/.753 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI. He’s coming off two straight seasons in which he played at least 160 games for the Atlanta Braves.

Swanson, 29, signed a seven-year, $177 million deal with the Cubs that ties him to the team through the 2029 season.

More From SI's Inside The Cubs

1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?

2. Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?

3. Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future

4. Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September

5. Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?

6. Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings

7. Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?

8. Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation

9. Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?