Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Golden Spikes Award Winner

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 7:00 AM ET

Shortstop Dansby Swanson remains at the heart of the Chicago Cubs' starting lineup, but that does not equate to him having the strongest of seasons at the plate. Through 80 games this year, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner is hitting .240 with 14 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .709 OPS.

Those are respectable numbers, considering how he has performed in recent campaigns, but it is surprising they are not higher, given how well the Cubs' offense as a whole has performed in 2025. Despite hitting behind potential All-Stars in Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Kyle Tucker, Swanson has especially struggled with timely hitting, hitting .175 with runners on base and just .141 with runners in scoring position.

And with Swanson approaching the mid-way point of a seven-year, $177 million deal he signed after the 2022 season, the Cubs may be looking for upgrades at shortstop in lieu of keeping him through the end of his contract.

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter envisions the Cubs finding their long-term solution at the position not in the trade market or free agency, but in the 2025 MLB Draft. Reuter predicts that the Cubs will use the No. 17 overall pick in the draft on Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy.

"The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner, Aloy hit .350/.434/.673 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 65 games this spring at Arkansas while serving as the team's starting shortstop," Reuter wrote. "His 64 strikeouts and 20.6 percent strikeout rate this spring do raise some minor red flags, but quality defensive shortstops with 20-homer power don't grow on trees, so even if he never hits for a high average he still has a high value floor."

Aloy, a three-year starter in the Razorbacks' middle infield, helped lead the program to the 2025 College World Series, where it came one game away from competing for a national championship. In addition to making the All-SEC First Team, he was also named the conference's Player of the Year this past season.

Numerous outlets rank Aloy among the top prospects in this year's MLB Draft. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel considers Aloy to be the No. 14 overall prospect, while The Athletic's Keith Law and MLB.com placed him at No. 15 and No. 17 in their respective lists.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: