The Chicago Cubs made multiple roster moves on Tuesday. Shortstop Dansby Swanson was activated from the 10-day injured list. Infielder Luis Vasquez was recalled from Triple-A as well, while outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and infielder Miles Mastrobuoni were both optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves, the team announced.
Swanson's activation from the injured list is the move that stands out. He had been battling a knee concern. The Cubs have certainly been looking forward to the return of the All-Star shortstop.
Dansby Swanson looking to find All-Star form
Swanson, 30, has made back-to-back All-Star teams. He made the first All-Star team of his career in 2022 with the Atlanta Braves before earning another nod in 2023 during his first campaign with the Cubs. Swanson struggled before suffering the aforementioned injury in 2024, though.
The shortstop will enter Tuesday's game against the Braves with a lackluster .209/.285/.341/.626 slash line. Swanson has also hit four home runs and stolen four bases.
It needs to be remembered that Swanson has played in just 37 games and we are still in May. There is still plenty of time for him to turn things around. The Cubs have still performed fairly well despite his injury absence and struggles. Chicago is currently 26-22, which is good for second place in the National League Central.
Perhaps Swanson's return will lead to the Cubs surpassing the Milwaukee Brewers in the division at some point. For now, the Cubs will focus on playing against Swanson's old team on Tuesday evening.
Pete-Crow Armstrong among Cubs' other roster moves
Crow-Armstrong is one of the top prospects in the sport. Through 23 big league games in 2024, the young outfielder has slashed just .236/.295/.364/.659. He hit just one home run but added five stolen bases during that span.
The Cubs surely still believe in Crow-Armstrong's ceiling. He will likely play at the MLB level at some point again in 2024. Returning to Triple-A for now will provide him with an opportunity to continue his development with less pressure around him.
Mastrobuoni was also optioned to Triple-A. He's a versatile player who will probably return to the big league club in 2024 as well. At the moment, the Cubs are going in a different direction at the MLB level, however.
The promotion of Vasquez is interesting. He is a 24-year-old infielder who is currently the No. 13 prospect in the Cubs farm system, per MLB.com. Vasquez is regarded as an excellent defensive presence but he still needs to improve offensively. Nevertheless, he has the chance to become a reliable player for the Cubs if given the opportunity.
Chicago features a number of young and talented players. Veterans like Dansby Swanson will try to help Chicago's prospects find their footing with the team. Vasquez, who can also play shortstop, could learn a lot from Swanson, who is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner.
The Cubs will host the Braves on Tuesday night at 7:40 PM EST at Wrigley Field. We will continue to monitor and provide updates on the team as they are made available.
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