Background
He was born on February 11, 1994 in Marietta, Georgia, to parents Cooter and Nancy (née Dansby) Swanson. Swanson grew up with two siblings, sister Lindsey and brother Chase.
He was born on February 11, 1994 in Marietta, Georgia, to parents Cooter and Nancy (née Dansby) Swanson. Swanson grew up with two siblings, sister Lindsey and brother Chase.
Swanson attended Vanderbilt University and played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Dansby attended Marietta High School in his hometown, where he played basketball and baseball.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him first overall in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 38th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and attended Vanderbilt University. As a freshman, he played in only 11 games due to a broken bone in his foot and a torn labrum in his non throwing shoulder.
As a sophomore in 2014, he was named an All-Southeastern Conference.
After the Commodores beat the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2014 College World Series, he was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. He was a finalist for the 2015 Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the nation"s top college player.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Swanson with the first overall selection of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. Swanson signed with the Diamondbacks, receiving a $6.5 million signing bonus.
While batting in a simulated game against Yoan López in July 2015, Swanson was hit in the face with a pitch.
The injury delayed his professional debut, which took place on August 12, 2015, with the Hillsboro Hops of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League. Swanson played in 22 games in his first professional season and finished with a.289 batting average, one home run, fourteen walks, and eleven RBIs. On December 9, 2015, the Diamondbacks traded Swanson, Ender Inciarte, and Aaron Blair to the Atlanta Braves for Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier.
The Braves invited Swanson to spring training to open the 2016 season.