Full Breakdown
Cubs Bench Gold Glove Shortstop Dansby Swanson Amid Hitting Slump
6/7/2026, 10:16:33 PM
Swanson Benched
The Chicago Cubs left two-time Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson out of the Saturday lineup against the San Francisco Giants. Swanson entered with a .180 batting average, the third-worst among regular players, and a .130 average over his last 14 games (six hits in 46 at-bats).
Background
Swanson’s slump follows a broader offensive downturn for Chicago, which entered the contest having lost 19 of its 25 games. Despite a career .248 average, 171 home runs, and 661 RBIs, his 2025 season numbers—.244 average, 24 homers, 77 RBIs, .717 OPS—contrast sharply with his current performance.
Personnel Changes
With Swanson sidelined, manager Craig Counsell shifted two-time Gold Glove second-baseman Nico Hoerner to shortstop and placed Pedro Ramirez at second base. The club also recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa and optioned Ethan Roberts.
Performance Metrics
- Swanson: .180 average, .130 last 14 games, four errors in 60, .983 fielding.
- Nico Hoerner: two-time Gold Glove winner, primary second-base role.
- Javier Assad: 3-1, 5.88 ERA in eight appearances (three starts) this season; 2024 7-6, 3.73 ERA over 29 starts.
- Ethan Roberts: 0-1, 1.96 ERA in 14 relief outings.
Strategic Impact
Counsell’s roster moves aim to provide Swanson a mental reset while preserving defensive stability. Hoerner’s versatility and Assad’s bullpen availability give the Cubs flexibility amid a losing streak. The move also lets the Cubs test bullpen depth without sacrificing infield defense.
Official Response
Manager Craig Counsell emphasized Swanson is healthy but needs a brief hiatus to address mental aspects of his hitting. He said the team will focus on “good work” and habit reinforcement before reintegrating Swanson.
Opposition
No criticism or dissenting commentary appears in the reports. The lack of reported dissent suggests internal agreement on the decision.
Conflicts & Gaps
All sources present a consistent account of Swanson’s removal and the roster changes. No other outlets offered differing explanations for the lineup change.
Quotes
- “Just at this point, just give him a couple of days away from the game.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager
- “Obviously he's healthy and could be in there, but you know, just try to give him a different look and just a little break mentally.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager
- “We haven't seen many signs of positive results from it, but let's try to commit to a couple more days of good work.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager
- “And maybe cement some of those thoughts and habits and then take it into a game.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager
Next Steps
Counsell said Javier Assad will be used from the bullpen in upcoming games, while Ethan Roberts remains a candidate for recall pending Swanson’s progress. The Cubs will monitor Swanson’s hitting routine before deciding his next start.
