Toronto Blue Jays' Reliever Gets Amazing News as Son is Out of ICU, No Word Yet on Return to Team

Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Erik Swanson, who stepped away from the team this week to be with family after his son was hit by a car, got great news on Wednesday as his son was moved out of the pediatric ICU.

Earlier this week, Toronto Blue Jays' ace reliever Erik Swanson left the team to deal with a very scary incident involving his four-year-old son, who was hit by a car in Florida.

Now, the Swanson family has gotten some good news in that Toby Swanson has been released from the pediatric ICU.

Per Blue Jays' reporter Kaitlyn McGrath on social media:

Madison Swanson, Erik Swanson’s wife, shared an update on IG that their son, Toby, who was hit by a car last weekend, is out of the pediatric intensive care unit. She wrote, “we are continuing to take it day by day.” #BlueJays

Madison Swanson, Erik Swanson’s wife, shared an update on IG that their son, Toby, who was hit by a car last weekend, is out of the paediatric intensive care unit. She wrote, “we are continuing to take it day by day.” #BlueJays

— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) February 29, 2024

While there clearly are more steps to recovery for Toby and the Swanson family, this is a great first step. There is no word yet on when Erik could return to Blue Jays camp, but frankly, baseball is secondary at this time.

When Swanson does return, he will fill a vital role in the Jays' bullpen as one of their top relievers.

The 30-year-old is coming off a season in which he went 4-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 69 games. He was an integral part of the Jays making the playoffs for the second straight year as well. He struck out 75 batters in 66.2 innings.

Lifetime, Swanson has a 3.78 ERA in five seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays. He was traded from Seattle to Toronto before the 2023 season in the deal that sent Teoscar Hernandez to Seattle.

He's become an extremely valuable bullpen arm in the last two years, making 57 and 69 appearances.

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