However actually, the 2 gamers had been linked properly earlier than that, too.
Each gamers have been recognized portions in highschool, and each have been late-round draft picks within the 2012 Draft. The Rockies drafted Swanson within the thirty eighth spherical out of Marietta Excessive College in Georgia, with Bregman changing into a twenty ninth spherical decide by Boston out of Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico. However neither signed. Swanson honored his dedication to Vanderbilt, whereas Bregman headed to Louisiana State. Each had the expertise to go within the high three rounds in the event that they have been signable.
The pair then confronted one another recurrently as Southeastern Convention shortstops from 2013-15. Swanson was an All-American his sophomore and junior seasons and helped lead Vanderbilt to the nationwide championship in 2014. Vandy returned to Omaha in 2015, the place the Commodores fell within the finals.
Bregman, in the meantime, emerged because the engine of LSU’s offense, sharpening a fame for relentless competitiveness and high-end baseball IQ. He was an All-American in ‘13 and ‘15 and led the top-ranked Tigers to the CWS as a junior, although they have been eradicated by Texas Christian within the quarterfinals. Each Swanson and Bregman have been finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation’s high collegiate participant, that yr. Anthony Benitendi in the end claimed the award.
By the point the 2015 Draft approached, the 2 have been inseparable in scouting circles. Swanson ranked No. 2 and Bregman No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s High 200 Draft Prospects listing (Florida prep infielder Brendan Rodgers ranked No. 1; Vandy righty Carson Fulmer ranked No. 3). Each have been seen as superior hitters with the instincts and actions to remain at shortstop, and each have been anticipated to come back off the board early.
Right here is a part of MLB Pipeline’s report on Swanson from the time:
“Swanson is a technically sound hitter who matches on the high of his lineup along with his on-base potential and velocity. He confirmed as a junior that there is perhaps Main League common energy in his bat as properly. His make-up is off the charts and universally praised by coaches and scouts.”
And here’s a snippet from Bregman’s:
“Along with his dimension, toolset, aggressive nature and great make-up, Bregman recurrently attracts comparisons to Dustin Pedroia. Not like Pedroia, he could possibly play shortstop within the large leagues. He regarded higher defensively as a junior, and his arm and really feel for the sport permit him to make performs at brief.”
Mock drafts mirrored how tight the race had turn into. In mid-Might, Pipeline projected Swanson to go third total to the Rockies, with Bregman going seventh to the Pink Sox. Two weeks later, Swanson had moved to the highest of the board. By early June, MLB Pipeline had Swanson and Bregman going first and second, in that order, in every of its last two mocks.
When Draft day arrived, the Diamondbacks made Swanson the primary faculty shortstop to be taken with the highest total decide for the reason that Padres took Invoice Almon in 1974. The Astros took Bregman with the No. 2 decide. Swanson signed for $6.5 million and Bregman for $5.9 million, simply the 2 largest bonuses within the class.
Bregman has at all times performed with a chip on his shoulder. At LSU, he wore No. 30 to recollect the 30 Main League groups that handed on him within the first spherical of the Draft out of highschool. With the Astros, he wore No. 2 to mark being handed over for Swanson as the highest decide, after firmly believing he was the perfect participant within the Draft.
The Astros at all times hoped Bregman could be accessible to them at No. 2. Mike Elias, the present Orioles GM and Houston’s scouting director on the time, later stated this to MLB.com:
“For the reason that Faculty Traditional at Minute Maid Park [where LSU played in March 2015], we had some scouting personnel that have been instantly infatuated with him. Actually, he was our man from the center of the spring [and] ahead. We have been a bit increased on Alex Bregman than the publications. We like Dansby Swanson, however we did have Alex Bregman over him on our board.”
Swanson spent solely 5 months with Arizona earlier than being traded to the Braves in a package deal for pitcher Shelby Miller. He started the 2016 season at Excessive-A, whereas Bregman started that yr at Double-A. In the meantime, consensus was evolving with reference to their prospect standing.
In MLB Pipeline’s 2015 midseason rankings, Swanson was ranked No. 12 and Bregman No. 27. By early 2016, Swanson was ranked No. 8 and Bregman inched as much as No. 22. By mid-season 2016, Bregman claimed the No. 1 rating, with Swanson ranked fifth.
That last flip was emblematic of Bregman’s ascent. Whereas Swanson moved rapidly and steadily by the system, Bregman surged, turning elite bat-to-ball abilities, strike-zone management and edge into top-of-the-list manufacturing. The duo then made their MLB debuts inside three weeks of each other in late July and mid-August 2016.
A decade later, with 5 All-Star appearances, three World Collection titles and three Gold Glove Awards between them, the 2 are teammates in Chicago.
