Swanson, Riley headed to Rome Braves for rehab games

James Dansby Swanson was born Feb. 11, 1994 in Kennesaw, Georgia. Swanson played college baseball at Vanderbilt. He was the first player taken in the 2015 MLB draft, by Arizona. The Braves acquired Swanson from the Diamondbacks on Dec. 9, 2015, in the Shelby Miller trade. The Braves also acquired Ender Inciarte. Swanson, who played at Marietta High School in metro Atlanta, made his major league debut Aug. 17, 2016. Swanson was 2-for-4 in that debut against the Twins. His first hit was a single off Kyle Gi

Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who hasn't played in a game in about a month because of a bruised heel, is scheduled to  begin a rehabilitation assignment with the Braves' minor-league team in Rome on Thursday.

He'll be followed there Friday by infielder/outfielder Austin Riley, who also will begin a rehab assignment after he was sidelined for two weeks with a partially torn knee ligament.

The Rome Braves play at home through the weekend.

Swanson will serve as Single-A Rome’s designated hitter Thursday and will play in the field the following day, Braves manager Brian Snitker said. It’s not clear how many rehab games Swanson will play before rejoining the Braves’ active roster.

“It shouldn’t take him that long,” Snitker said. “He’ll DH and then play seven (innings) and then play nine and see where he’s at.”

Riley will DH at Rome on Friday, Snitker said.