Remember Jarren Duran? The Boston Red Sox outfielder who faced intense scrutiny and battled depression, only to come back stronger? His story is a testament to resilience and the importance of mental health in sports. A similar incident occurred with the $177 million star of the Chicago Cubs, who was suffering from a serious case of depression that took a toll on his career and health.

As ardent fans, we often consider our favorite players as larger-than-life figures. While we continue to cheer for them and empathize sometimes, behind the bright lights of the stadium and cheering audience, we forget that they are also human beings. They grapple with personal struggles, sometimes hidden even from their closest loved ones. A similar thing happened with the Cubs shortstop, Dansby Swanson. He made some surprising confessions about the struggles he was going through that were left hidden, even from his wife. 

Known for his calm demeanor, Swanson’s journey took an unexpected turn when, after being the first overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves without playing a single major league game. On the “Diggin’ Deep Shows” podcast, he shared how this sudden shift impacted his mental well-being .

Driven by a fierce competitive spirit, Swanson set high standards for himself. Reflecting on his struggles, Swanson said, “People don’t know what actually go on in people’s lives and things that they had to overcome, hurdles they had to jump over. That was like the lowest of lows for me; I tell her this all the time: pick me up out of the hole. Did anyone know you felt that way?”

It is not always easy to make a confession, particularly when you are at your lowest. But yes, Swanson did it just like Jarren Duran, who also went into depression after facing severe criticism. It eventually led to pulling the trigger even, but nothing happened. At that point, Duran realised he had been given a second chance and that he had a purpose in life.

Quite similarly, Dansby Swanson was also at his lowest point, as he stopped eating healthy and started consuming too much alcohol while even hiding the pains from his wife, Mallory Pugh Swanson. Not to mention that it is never simple for a player as the abrupt trade from the Diamondbacks left him feeling uncertain about his future.

However, as we always say, all’s well that ends well. As he gradually emerged from the depression, Swanson’s relationships with his friends, family, and coaches were crucial. But most importantly, it was his faith in God and the support of his wife which paved the way for him to battle through the depression.

Chicago Cubs $177M Star’s faith in God helped him battle depression

Amid the shocking confession of his mental health struggles, the former Braves shortstop, Dansby Swanson, opened up on how he managed to battle it out against the mental health struggles. Talking about his battle with depression and anxiety, he said, “I felt like fear was what was holding me back, whether it was fear of failure or fear of disappointing others.” His spiritual reckoning played a crucial role in instilling faith in God and achieving a stronger sense of identity.

Dansby Swanson further said, “I do a lot of therapy and am very grateful that everything he does is based around Scripture and that it’s based on Jesus being the centre of the focus.” He thanked God for using people to accomplish things around him while concentrating on what really mattered. Swanson even talked about spending time reading the Holy Bible and connecting with the purpose in life. However, there’s a fan who always rooted for him – his wife, Mallory Pugh Swanson.

Mrs Swanson said, “When Dansby and I first started dating, I told him if we’re going to be a thing and we’re going to have a future together, Jesus and God are our foundation. I look back at the past four and a half years, and it’s amazing how much growth we both have had in our faith.” All this support helped him to emerge victorious after passing through the tough phases in life, and it turned into a building block of his successful career too. He never looked back since then.,

Dansby Swanson’s impressive performance in 2021 helped the Braves to win the World Series title since 1995. After signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2022, he batted at an average of .242, with .31 OBP and a .702 OPS, along with hitting 16 home runs in 2024. Although he has been off to a slow start this season, it cannot be denied that the former Brave could put up a great show and solidify the Cubs’ defense, furthermore.

What are your thoughts on players mental health and depression? Let us know in the comment section below.