Braves land at No. 15 in FanGraphs’ shortstop Power Rankings

FanGraphs position by position preview of the 2017 MLB season continued on Wednesday with their rankings for the shortstop and second base positions.

At shortstop, Atlanta checks in at No. 15 as Dansby Swanson looks to solidify the position for years to come. Swanson had a successful debut in 2016 but will face a challenge in proving that he can sustain those types of numbers over a full season. However, he has looked poised during the spring and appears to be ready for the challenge. Here is a look at FanGraphs projections for the Braves shortstops and what author Jeff Sullivan had to say about Swanson.

We’re in the middle of the pack, and we’re just now getting to Dansby Swanson, 2015’s first overall draft pick, a guy who hit .302 as a 22-year-old big-league rookie. Yeah, there are a lot of talented shortstops. I’m actively writing this right now, and I’ve thought about this whole crop of shortstops before, but this is still blowing my mind. 15th place. Dansby Swanson!

The good news here is that Swanson made such a successful debut, in his month-plus. He hit just one single infield pop-up, and he only infrequently chased out of the zone. Consensus seems to be that Swanson’s upside is fairly limited, as he doesn’t have game-breaking power or defense. Yet, for one thing, he’s at least something like average across the board. That raises his floor, so to speak. And for another thing, Swanson has simply not been a professional for very long. His performance record is short, so, who are we to say where his career might go? For now, he should already be considered a core piece of the present and future. The Braves wouldn’t be hopeless without Dave Stewart, but they would have a lot less hope.

Swanson answered every challenge he faced in 2016. The Braves will be looking for more of the same this season.

Atlanta didn’t come out quite as well in the second base rankings checking in at No. 26 overall. FanGraphs projects Brandon Phillips to be worth about one win above replacement this season with Jace Peterson also figuring to get several opportunities as well. Ozzie Albies could arrive on the scene this season and change the outlook of this position for the Braves going forward.

Now we get to Brandon Phillips. The former Red, once traded for Bartolo Colon, has had a pretty good career. Phillips turns 36 this year, though, and hasn’t produced an above-average offensive season since 2012. Also, his once excellent defense is likely slipping with age. If his offense doesn’t erode anymore, and his defense is still sufficient, he just might turn in an average season in the Atlanta suburbs.

The Braves were 28th in these rankings last year, with Jace Peterson projected as the primary second baseman. Peterson is still around, but not expected to contribute much beyond a utility role. If Braves fans can wait just one more year, Ozzie Albies might help them move up the rankings for 2018.

As was the case with third base yesterday, the injury to Sean Rodriguez hurts the Braves in this instance. He was expected to see plenty of time at second base until Albies was ready. Atlanta went out and acquired Phillips as a stop gap measure but this is an interesting position to keep an eye on as the season develops.