Cubs News: Dansby Swanson continues to showcase insane baseball IQ

Everywhere Dansby Swanson has played baseball, he's been a winner. A National Champion at Vanderbilt. A World Series champion in Atlanta. Now, he's the face of the Cubs, a franchise looking to return to relevancy after dreams of a dynasty failed to come to fruition in the wake of the 2016 season.

You know Chicago expects big things from Swanson - otherwise, they wouldn't have handed him the second-largest guarantee in team history: a seven-year, $177 million pact that will keep him with the Cubs through the 2029 season. Coming off a 5.7 bWAR 2022 campaign in which he played all 162 games for the Braves, this is a proven presence who consistently leads by example.

"I’m the believer of if it’s gonna help us win, I need to know about it and need to be able to help others with it too. Just feel like that’s part of my duty and I enjoy it."

- Dansby Swanson, via Marquee

During a Marquee broadcast last week, you saw Swanson putting his head together with Justin Steele and Tommy Hottovy - and seeing a shortstop digging so deep on strategy with the pitching coach and man on the mound really spoke volumes when it comes to what he's going to bring to this team on a daily basis.

Dansby Swanson bringing winning mindset, baseball IQ to the Cubs

Swanson has just one hit on the spring so far - but you'll notice there's no signs of panic. Nor should there be. As Cactus League action continues and we draw closer to Opening Day, you'll see guys start to get their timing down and lock in at the plate. In the meantime, it's about getting comfortable playing with one another and growing that bond in the locker room, while creating a winning culture.

"He’s always thinking about how to get an edge — it’s a winning mindset. Everything he’s talking about or doing is either giving you a hard time about not being perfect or giving you a little bit of the knowledge that he’s learned in his time and other places. It’s always surrounded by winning. "

- David Ross, via Marquee

A guy with a crazy high baseball IQ and a history of winning makes Swanson a perfect centerpiece for the Cubs as waves of prospects start to impact the big league roster. Hearing he's impressing is no surprise - and bodes well for what's to come over the next seven years.