Dansby Swanson’s presence will be part of Cubs’ efforts to weather his absence: ‘He turns into another coach’
<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> will spend the next four weeks without their starting shortstop, no small thing in the middle of a playoff race.</p><p>Dansby Swanson is a critical part of the Cubs’ championship puzzle, playing Gold Glove defense at one of the sport’s premier positions and, if at times quietly, providing ample offensive production. He came into Tuesday fourth on the roster with 18 home runs.</p><p>So keeping the team’s best-in-baseball defense humming and one of the top-scoring offenses in the game firing on as many cylinders as possible – all while trying to close the gap with the division-leading Brewers – becomes tougher with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/17/cubs-injuries-dansby-swanson-oblique-edward-cabrera-blister-nico-hoerner-pedro-ramizrez-craig-counsell-david-peterson-javier-assad-rotation-bullpen" >Swanson sidelined by an oblique strain</a>.</p><p>“It’s a huge deal,” said second baseman Nico Hoerner, who has taken over everyday shortstop duties in Swanson’s absence.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> will spend the next four weeks without their starting shortstop, no small thing in the middle of a playoff race.</p><p>Dansby Swanson is a critical part of the Cubs’ championship puzzle, playing Gold Glove defense at one of the sport’s premier positions and, if at times quietly, providing ample offensive production. He came into Tuesday fourth on the roster with 18 home runs.</p><p>So keeping the team’s best-in-baseball defense humming and one of the top-scoring offenses in the game firing on as many cylinders as possible – all while trying to close the gap with the division-leading Brewers – becomes tougher with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/17/cubs-injuries-dansby-swanson-oblique-edward-cabrera-blister-nico-hoerner-pedro-ramizrez-craig-counsell-david-peterson-javier-assad-rotation-bullpen" >Swanson sidelined by an oblique strain</a>.</p><p>“It’s a huge deal,” said second baseman Nico Hoerner, who has taken over everyday shortstop duties in Swanson’s absence. “He’s at the heart of everything we do. It shows up in his production on both sides of the ball, but also all the things that you can’t measure: the consistency and the person.</p><p>“Obviously, he’s going to stay involved as much as he can.
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- <p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> will spend the next four weeks without their starting shortstop, no small thing in the middle of a playoff race.</p><p>Dansby Swanson is a critical part of the Cubs’ championship puzzle, playing Gold Glove defense at one of the sport’s premier positions and, if at times quietly, providing ample offensive production. He came into Tuesday fourth on the roster with 18 home runs.</p><p>So keeping the team’s best-in-baseball defense humming and one of the top-scoring offenses in the game firing on as many cylinders as possible – all while trying to close the gap with the division-leading Brewers – becomes tougher with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/17/cubs-injuries-dansby-swanson-oblique-edward-cabrera-blister-nico-hoerner-pedro-ramizrez-craig-counsell-david-peterson-javier-assad-rotation-bullpen" >Swanson sidelined by an oblique strain</a>.</p><p>“It’s a huge deal,” said second baseman Nico Hoerner, who has taken over everyday shortstop duties in Swanson’s absence.
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Dansby Swanson’s presence will be part of Cubs’ efforts to weather his absence: ‘He turns into another coach’
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times