Swanson's debut for hometown Braves was 'pretty special'

ATLANTA - Shortstop Dansby Swanson, born and raised in the north Atlanta suburbs, had a big dream come true Wednesday night.

''That's the only way you can really sum it up,'' he said. ''Playing for your hometown team and basically going out there and doing what you've worked your whole life for is pretty special.''

Swanson, the Braves' top prospect and the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2015, had his contract selected from Double-A Mississippi and went 2-for-4 batting eighth in his debut.

It came in another lackluster effort by the Braves - a 10-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins in a matchup of the two worst teams in the majors.

He walked up to his first at-bat with Ludacris' ''Georgia'' playing over the speakers and received a standing ovation before lining out in the second inning.

The 22-year-old Swanson met with family and friends before the game and loved hearing a group of them cheer from their seats about 30 rows up from home plate.

''They're nuts, I know,'' Swanson said. ''It was great to hear that. It means a lot to me. I love every single one of them and I'm just glad they were able to be a part of it.''

Next year figures to be just as special. Swanson's family home will be even closer as the Braves move into a new ballpark in Marietta, just a few miles from his former high school.

After a six-hour drive from Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday night, he arrived at his parents' home in Marietta at 2 a.m. He got about four hours of sleep, took a ''surreal drive'' to Turner Field and was the first player to arrive in the clubhouse around 11 a.m., spending 30 minutes talking with Brian Snitker in the interim manager's office.

''He's a very well-grounded kid, very intelligent,'' Snitker said before the game. ''He gets it. The intangibles are just dripping off this young man, not to mention his athletic abilities as a baseball player.''

Atlanta created a spot on the 25-man roster for Swanson after trading shortstop Erick Aybar to Detroit on Tuesday night and designating Mike Aviles, the utility man acquired in the deal, for assignment.

He was the first No. 1 overall pick to debut in the season following his draft year since Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg in 2009.

''Pressure is kind of something that comes about when I guess you don't believe in yourself as much, that you don't believe in something you can do or accomplish,'' Swanson said. ''I just worry about what I can control and there's no pressure on myself when I do that.''

Swanson spent just 127 games in the minors. The former Vanderbilt standout had a combined .275 average and nine homers and 55 RBIs in 105 games between Mississippi and Class A Carolina.

''This is a very smart kid and a good player,'' president of baseball operations John Hart said. ''However he performs up here, I think it's going to be beneficial for him and for us as we go to make a decision to what we're going to do with the shortstop position next year.''

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)