Dansby Swanson is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. Last season, Swanson was tied for third among National League shortstops with seven defensive runs saved and has won a pair of Gold Gloves.
Having Nico Hoerner a few feet to his left doesn’t hurt.
“Nico makes my life a lot easier, just his instincts, his presence, his ability to communicate,” Swanson said of Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove second baseman. “Obviously, we’ve built that rapport with one another now for three years. It’s nice having that consistency and someone you can trust on the other side.”
That relationship will extend well past 2026 because of Hoerner’s six-year contract extension, which is expected to become official soon. Swanson is signed through 2029, keeping the middle of the Cubs’ defense intact for the rest of the decade.
Teammates since 2023, Swanson and Hoerner know each other very well. During their three-plus seasons together in the middle of the diamond they’ve built a connection that doesn’t arrive overnight and helps in every aspect of their games.
“It takes intentionality to build that relationship with one another and to understand strengths and weaknesses,” Swanson said, “and have an understanding of where he’s going to be, when he’s going to be at certain spots, what we need to communicate, what we can almost-telepathically communicate to one another.”
Telepathy aside, the extensions for Hoerner and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong plus the long-term contracts for Swanson and third baseman Alex Bregman give the Cubs a core of plus fielders at premium positions.
“We have some of the best in the game [on defense],” Swanson said. “To be able to make other teams earn their runs and their hits, dictates winning. The [front office has] been able to build out this roster in that fashion.”
Appreciating Heyward
Former Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward officially announced his retirement Friday, ending a 16-season career. Heyward compiled 41.5 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) and will be remembered by Cubs fans for his passionate rain-delay speech during Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
Ian Happ was not on that team, but Heyward still made a profound impact on Happ’s career as a teammate from 2017-22, influencing his professionalism, approach to the game and how he leads now. Happ said he texted Heyward on Friday, telling his former colleague how grateful he is to have played with Heyward for six seasons, thanking him for the “special memories” that were created during that time.
Happ also recalled how much time Heyward spent teaching him some finer points of playing the outfield. Considering the crush of outfielders vying for playing time when Happ broke in, Heyward could have chafed at tutoring a younger player.
Heyward did the opposite.
“We had a lot of guys playing outfield and jumping in and out; he had a ton of years at that time and a World Series ring and Gold Gloves, and to be OK with coming out, double-switching and things that were happening and to handle that and lift up the young guys, it’s just something that’s so impressive,” Happ said. “He always handled himself with grace and professionalism.”