Toby, the son of Erik and Madison Swanson, was hit by a car in Florida and airlifted to a hospital.
In Dunedin, Florida, the four-year-old son of Major League Baseball pitcher Erik Swanson, originally from Fargo, was struck by a car and suffered critical injuries this week.
Swanson, who resides in Fargo with his wife Madison and two children, serves as a relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, who conduct their spring training in Dunedin.
According to MLB.com, Toby Swanson was hit by a car on Sunday, February 25, and subsequently airlifted to a hospital.
The Toronto Blue Jays issued a statement expressing gratitude to Clearwater first responders for their remarkable efforts, noting that Toby is now on the path to recovery and surrounded by his family.
The team emphasized Erik Swanson’s absence from the team as he prioritizes his family during this time, offering their love, support, and prayers to Erik, Madison, Toby, and the Swanson family. Out of respect for their privacy, the Blue Jays refrained from providing further commentary on the matter.
Swanson hails from Fargo and has strong connections to the area. Although his family relocated to Ohio when he was five, Swanson and his wife returned to Fargo several years ago. Madison Swanson is an alumna of North Dakota State University, while Erik Swanson attended Iowa Western Community College.
Erik Swanson initially pledged to the University of Pittsburgh before the Texas Rangers selected him in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB draft.
According to MLB.com, Erik Swanson has established himself as an integral part of the Toronto Blue Jays’ close-knit bullpen unit since joining the team ahead of the 2023 season.
Toby Swanson is a familiar presence within the team, having thrown out the ceremonial first pitch toward the end of the 2023 season alongside Tim Mayza’s son, Everett, also a member of the Blue Jays.
“In my role as a father, with two sons aged 7 and 5, this situation really resonates with me,” stated Toronto manager John Schneider to the media in Florida. “At the end of the day, baseball is just a game. You pray, you hope for the best. Thankfully, that’s been the case so far. It really makes you realize how swiftly things can change, and how important it is not to take anything for granted.”
Erik Swanson, who boasted a 4-2 record with a 2.97 earned run average and four saves for the Blue Jays in 2023, entered the majors in 2019 with the Seattle Mariners. Across his five seasons in the big leagues, he holds a career record of 8-12 with a 3.78 ERA.
