Cubs’ No. 9 Hitter Just Did Something That Hasn’t Happened in Over a Century

Dansby Swanson had a day at the plate Wednesday that you don’t see every day. Actually, you don’t see it every century.

The Cubs shortstop, batting ninth for the first time this season, crushed two home runs including a grand slam and drove in seven runs total as Chicago rolled past the Mets 10-3 in New York. It was the kind of performance that makes you check the record books, and sure enough, there it was.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers pointed out after the game that Swanson is the first Cubs hitter in the No. 9 spot to hit two homers with a grand slam in the same game since at least 1901. That’s 125 years of baseball. The National League only added the designated hitter full-time in 2022, so the pool of candidates is smaller than it would be in the American League. Still, nobody in Cubs history batting last had ever done what Swanson did.

He launched a solo shot in the third inning, then stepped up with the bases loaded in the fourth and sent one over the wall. By the time the inning ended, the Cubs had a comfortable lead and Swanson had already matched his RBI total from the previous 10 games combined.

Chicago has been on a bit of a roll lately, winning four of five to get back to 42-37. That’s a welcome change from last month when they looked like they were about to hit the skids. The offense has been picking up the pitching staff, and Wednesday was the extreme example.

Swanson signed with the Cubs before the 2023 season after winning a World Series with the Braves in 2021. He also took home a Gold Glove that year. His time in Chicago has been uneven — good stretches followed by cold ones — but this kind of game is a reminder of what he can do when he’s locked in.

The teams meet again Thursday for the series finale. Swanson probably won’t bat ninth again. Then again, after this, maybe he should.