CHICAGO — “I’ve been up since 4 o’clock in the morning,” Cubs shortstop Donsby Swanson said inside the Wrigley Field clubhouse Tuesday night, explaining why he took himself out of the 4-on-4 game and felt physically and emotionally drained. All that happened to his wife, Mallory Swanson, a key player on the US Women’s National Soccer Team.
Dansby Swanson got up early that morning in Chicago to take Mallory Swanson to a local hospital for surgery on a torn patella tendon in her left knee, a devastating injury she suffered during Saturday’s exhibition against Ireland. World Cup this summer.
The Cubs signed Donsby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million contract last winter, in part because of his winning pedigree and long track record. Swanson chose Chicago because his wife was already a professional athlete in the city with the NWSL’s Red Stars.
Swanson helped the Cubs erase an early seven-run deficit against the Mariners, then signaled for the dugout before the start of the sixth inning. The team initially described Swanson’s problem as “lower left side tightness.” Cubs manager David Rose clarified that it was a “catch” while briefing the media after the 14-9 victory.
“Honestly, I felt like my body was kind of done,” Swanson said. “I felt that doing anything more would harm me. I was done for the night. Very simple, probably not eating or sleeping or drinking enough water for the past few days. I already started getting a lot of fluids in myself and started taking care of myself.
Swanson made a big impact during his first 10 games with the Cubs, hitting .400, lighting up the Gold Glove defense and leading the team to a 6-4 start that should inspire some confidence in Wrigleyville. But it’s not how she envisioned it for Mallory Swanson after their wedding last December in Georgia or during their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic when they decided to have little ones.
“She’s fine,” Dansby Swanson said. “Everyone knows it’s a very difficult and heartbreaking situation. I’m heartbroken for her, a lot of tears and sadness. Two things can be true at the same time: we can be sad and sad, but we can understand God’s big picture and plans. We’ll get through it together.”
(Photo of Mallory and Dansby Swanson on opening day: Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
