3 years agoWith elite speed in the top 10% in all of baseball in 2020, Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson was considered a 25-20 threat heading into 2021. While he did manage to hit a career-high 27 home runs with 88 RBI in 2021, he fell short in the stolen base category. He only swiped nine bases despite posting a sprint speed in the top 18% of MLB. Coming off a shortened 2020 campaign in which he put up a solid .274/.345.464 slash line, Swanson also regressed with a .248/.311/.449 slash line in 2021. His overall barrel rate and exit velocity remained consistent with his 2020 numbers. He even saw a notable decrease in his strikeout rate and an increase in his hard-hit rate. However, Swanson's line drive rate plummeted over seven percent in 2021. In addition, he posted the lowest walk rate (8%) of his career. Both declines likely led to these lower 2021 ratios. Looking ahead to 2022, Swanson's 2021 metrics would not suggest any regression in the power department. The Braves formidable lineup will also continue to present Swanson with ample RBI opportunities, provided he is hitting in the middle-to-lower part of the batting order. Of course, Swanson has yet to put up more than 10 stolen bases in any given season. With 2021 being his seventh campaign, the chance of Swanson (28-years old on Opening Day) of ever putting up a 20-20 season is unlikely, even with excellent sprint speed. At this point, Swanson is who he is; namely, a solid shortstop who can contribute in three or four offensive categories and serve as a utility bat or middle infielder in mixed leagues once the top-15 shortstops are off the board. Managers selecting Swanson in the middle rounds at his ADP of 126 should expect 20-25 HR, 80-90 RBI, a modest 5-10 steals, and a batting average and on-base percentage which should positively regress closer to his career numbers of .249 and .319, respectively.--Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller