This One Key Stat Proves Why Dansby Swanson's Bounced Back in 2019

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson found a recipe for success in 2019.

Coming off a rough 2018 season in which he batted .238 with an OPS of under .700, Swanson has made some noticeable adjustments to his hitting approach that have paid dividends early in the 2019 season. Through 41 games, Swanson is hitting .268 with an OPS of .819, slightly above the .800 OPS threshold considered decent for an MLB hitter.

What factors can explain Swanson's bounce-back and is it sustainable? According to MLB.com's Mike Petriello, Swanson's chase rate, or pitches he swings at outside the strike zone, has decreased more than any other player in baseball from 2018 to 2019.

This represents a key shift in hitting philosophy that has contracted the strike zone and provided more hits for Swanson in the early going.

Swanson's decreased chase rate has also led to other advanced metrics that further demonstrate the 25-year-old's ability to keep his bounce back sustainable. According to BaseballReference, Swanson's strikeout percentage rate is down nearly two percent from 2018, at about 20.4 percent this season compared to 22.9 percent last season.

Additionally, his walk rate has increased by a full percentage point, going from 8.3 percent in 2018 to 9.3 percent in 2019.

The Braves lineup is further enhanced when Swanson and his team-leading 25 RBI produce at the plate and adds length behind established hitters Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies and Nick Markakis. The advanced metrics prove he's showing no signs are letting up.