Latest news with #DansbySwanson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Young Star
Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Young Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Cubs are nearing a first-place record in all of baseball, but with the 2025 MLB Draft less than a month away, conversations are being held about which positions the organization wants to upgrade. Advertisement Dansby Swanson is a former Gold Glove winner in 2023 with the Cubs and 2022 with the Atlanta Braves, but he has struggled at the plate for going on three straight seasons. According to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, the 31-year-old could be getting replaced in the near future. That is because McDaniel has predicted the Cubs to take a new shortstop at No. 17 overall in the draft. From the University of Arkansas, Wehiwa Aloy is 22nd-ranked prospect in the draft, and McDaniel's 14th-ranked prospect. He has had just five errors across 205 total chances, making him one of the best college shortstops in the draft. Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) throws his helmet after striking out during the ninth inning of against the San Diego Padres at Petco Poroy-Imagn Images "Aloy could go a half-dozen picks higher or even a bit lower than this, as the college bats in this tier are seemingly in a different order for every team," McDaniel said. Advertisement Aloy turned 21 this winter, which makes him almost exactly 10 years younger than Swanson, who also has a February birthday. He is actually playing in the College World Series and has been one of Arkansas' few offensive bright spots. The young star is hitting .352 at Arkansas this season, with a monster 21 home runs and 68 RBIs across 306 plate appearances. It is hard to predict exactly how well Aloy's game will translate to the MLB level, but Swanson's declining average and career-low on-base percentage could motivate the Cubs to make this selection. However, Swanson has still hit 13 homers in Chicago's 73 games, and is on pace to approach a career high of 27. His job is safe for now, but if Aloy is the pick, things could get interesting in 2026 or 2027. Related: Cubs' Jed Hoyer Named Among MLB Execs Under Most Pressure This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What we're hearing about the Cubs: Kyle Tucker, Shota Imanaga and another walk-off win
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are performing at a level where this year becomes all about maximizing their chances in October. Sensing the moment, the president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, will be aggressive in adding pitching ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. The next six-plus weeks will determine whether the Cubs also need to get another hitter for a complementary role. Advertisement The Cubs took care of business in May, padding their record during a softer stretch of the schedule that featured the Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies. If the position players stay largely healthy, Hoyer's front office can focus on bench options, since third baseman Matt Shaw has seized that job. After recent summers that were bogged down in buy-or-sell debates, the Cubs are no longer dealing with that ambiguity. Although the offense has inevitably cooled off, the first-place Cubs gained ground in the National League Central during this more challenging portion of their schedule, when opponents lined up Cy Young Award contenders such as Tarik Skubal, Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes. 'It's a really good thing for us to be able to go through facing arms like that,' Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. 'We've done a really good job of putting at-bats on guys and making them work. It hasn't necessarily shown up in the run column as much, but I just feel like the intent and the preparation has been really good with this group. 'That will pay off for us here in the end.' Cubs players, officials and their families enjoyed a Father's Day picnic on the Wrigley Field grass after Sunday afternoon's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 10 innings. Before the slides and bounce house were inflated in left field — and the food and drink stations were set up in right field — Ian Happ lined a clutch hit off Pirates closer David Bednar to spark another walk-off celebration. 'The run-scoring environment at Wrigley this year just hasn't been great,' Happ said. 'You saw four or five balls hit today that are doubles or homers in other places. It pulls the outfielders in a little bit and makes the outfield really small, so you have to find ways to win that baseball game. Our bullpen and our starting staff consistently keeping us in games has been huge.' Advertisement The Cubs took the four-game series from the Pirates with three narrow victories — 3-2, 2-1 and 3-2 — around a 2-1 loss in which Skenes used up his 95 pitches in only five innings. Being adaptable for the Friendly Confines — where the elements are so unpredictable — remains a point of emphasis. On the road, the Cubs recently matched up well against the American League's best team, losing a three-game series in which the Detroit Tigers cumulatively outscored them 8-7 while starting Skubal and Jack Flaherty in what resembled a playoff atmosphere. The Cubs hung in there last week against Wheeler, the Philadelphia Phillies ace, before losing an 11-inning game. The Cubs avoided the sweep, however, while going up against Mick Abel, a top pitching prospect, and Jesús Luzardo, the front-line starter they nearly acquired last offseason before spiking that deal over medical concerns. While extending their division lead, the Cubs have also faced off against MacKenzie Gore, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Nick Martinez, and demonstrated an ability to execute in key moments. 'Great pitching usually beats good hitting,' Swanson said. 'That's just the nature of this game. That's why you fail seven times out of 10 and you're pretty darn good. But it's really good for us to be able to go through stretches where we have to really compete and find ways to win games.' • Kyle Tucker was noticeably absent from Sunday's lineup, especially with the Cubs off on Monday and the Pirates starting Mitch Keller, another good pitcher whose career numbers against left-handed hitters are subpar. Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged that Tucker's recent injury — the All-Star outfielder is dealing with a sprained right ring finger — remains a consideration: 'It's there. It's not bad. But this was a chance to try to get him two days without swinging a bat.' Advertisement Since exiting that June 1 game as a precaution, Tucker sat out another game, subbed in as a pinch hitter twice and started as the designated hitter three times. The Pirates intentionally walked Tucker when he entered Sunday's game as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning. The Cubs will continue to monitor this issue, as they have no way to fully replace Tucker's left-handed power, alert base running, Gold Glove defense and overall aura. • Shota Imanaga is scheduled to throw another bullpen session in Arizona before making his next rehab start on Friday with Triple-A Iowa. The All-Star pitcher, who's coming back from a strained left hamstring, threw 55 pitches between Saturday's outing in the Arizona Complex League and an extra session in the bullpen. At this point, the Cubs have not yet decided whether Imanaga will need an additional Triple-A start. If Imanaga builds his pitch count up to around 75 with Iowa and experiences no setbacks, he could return to the rotation in late June during a road series against the St. Louis Cardinals. • Drew Pomeranz was unavailable for Sunday's game, though that decision had more to do with his recent workload than the lower back tightness he felt during Saturday's eighth inning. Using Pomeranz out of the bullpen on Sunday would have meant pushing him on back-to-back-to-back days. The Cubs will be particularly careful with Pomeranz, 36, who did not throw a major-league pitch in any of the last three years. Yet, since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a minor April transaction, the lefty's ERA through 20 appearances is 0.00. (Top photo of Ian Happ celebrating his walk-off 10th-inning single: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
CBS News
7 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Happ hits game-ending single in 10th as Cubs top Pirates
Ian Happ hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Sunday. The Cubs used a double steal to put runners on second and third in the 10th against David Bednar (1-5). Jon Berti struck out swinging for the first out, but Happ followed with a liner to right, delighting the crowd of 40,162 at Wrigley Field. The NL Central leaders won three of four against the last-place Pirates. Every game was a one-run contest. Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch each had two hits for Chicago. Swanson and Seiya Suzuki each drove in a run. Chris Flexen (4-0) pitched a 1-2-3 10th for the win, completing a four-hitter. Spencer Horwitz had two hits and drove in a run for the Pirates. Alexander Canario had a run-scoring groundout. Each team scored two runs in the first. Horwitz singled in Oneil Cruz for the game's first run, and Swanson tied it at 2 with an RBI single in the bottom half. Colin Rea pitched six innings of four-hit ball for the Cubs. He struck out four and walked one. Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller surrendered three hits in six innings. Keller lowered his ERA to 4.08 on the season, but he is winless in his last 14 starts. Key moment Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner made a diving grab of Isiah Kiner-Falefa's low liner to end the top of the 10th and prevent automatic runner Adam Frazier from scoring. Key stat The Cubs improved to 12-6 in one-run games. Up next Pirates: LHP Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36 ERA) faces Tigers RHP Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA) at Detroit on Tuesday. Cubs: Following an off day, RHP Ben Brown (3-5, 5.71 ERA) takes the mound against Brewers RHP Chad Patrick (3-6, 3.25 ERA) on Tuesday at Wrigley.
Al Arabiya
7 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Happ Hits a Game-Ending Single in the 10th as the Cubs Top the Pirates 3-2
Ian Happ hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3–2 on Sunday. The Cubs used a double steal to put runners on second and third in the 10th against David Bednar (1–5). Jon Berti struck out swinging for the first out, but Happ followed with a liner to right, delighting the crowd of 40,162 at Wrigley Field. The NL Central leaders won three of four against the last-place Pirates. Every game was a one-run contest. Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch each had two hits for Chicago. Swanson and Seiya Suzuki each drove in a run. Chris Flexen (4–0) pitched a 1-2-3 10th for the win, completing a four-hitter. Spencer Horwitz had two hits and drove in a run for the Pirates. Alexander Canario had a run-scoring groundout. Each team scored two runs in the first. Horwitz singled in Oneil Cruz for the game's first run, and Swanson tied it at 2 with an RBI single in the bottom half. Colin Rea pitched six innings of four-hit ball for the Cubs. He struck out four and walked one. Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller surrendered three hits in six innings. Keller lowered his ERA to 4.08 on the season, but he is winless in his last 14 starts.
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Happ hits a game-ending single in the 10th as the Cubs top the Pirates 3-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Sunday. The Cubs used a double steal to put runners on second and third in the 10th against David Bednar (1-5). Jon Berti struck out swinging for the first out, but Happ followed with a liner to right, delighting the crowd of 40,162 at Wrigley Field. The NL Central leaders won three of four against the last-place Pirates. Every game was a one-run contest. Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch each had two hits for Chicago. Swanson and Seiya Suzuki each drove in a run. Chris Flexen (4-0) pitched a 1-2-3 10th for the win, completing a four-hitter. Spencer Horwitz had two hits and drove in a run for the Pirates. Alexander Canario had a run-scoring groundout.
