Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson is taking time away from the team after his four year-old-son Toby was struck by a car, manager John Schneider announced this morning (link via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). The accident occurred on Sunday in the Clearwater area. Toby was airlifted to a local hospital.
Schneider said that Toby “is on the road to recovery” but understandably didn’t provide many specifics. Swanson will be away from the team to be with his family. “The guys have been great. Erik and his wife Madison are very thankful for the support. And we’re going to continue to give it as long as we need to,” Schneider told reporters. “Again, baseball is secondary when you’re talking about family and life. We’re going to continue to support him. The guys have been absolutely phenomenal with him so far and you can’t forget about players’ wives and significant others that have reached out as well. It’s been a rough couple of days, but it’s really, really nice to see the support for Erik.”
The Blue Jays released a brief statement on X sending “love, support and prayers (to) the entire Swanson family.” MLBTR joins countless others throughout the game in sending our best wishes to the Swanson family.
Toronto acquired Swanson from the Mariners last offseason. He turned in a 2.96 ERA in 66 2/3 innings during his first season with the club.
Wow. So glad to hear the road ahead looks positive. Hoping for the best for Erik and his family.
Pretty awful situation. Hopefully his son recovers.
Hope all goes well for the Swanson family. Glad he can be there with his son through all of this.
Just sending this out to the universe…. get well soon, Toby!!
This is a hard time in any person’s life. Forget baseball. Focus on the well-being on your family first.
Oh ok good idea.
You have a hard time relating and fitting in with others, don’t you?
That’s a phone call every parent prays they never get.
Hope the little guy is well soon.
This is why you shouldn’t let your 4-6 year old walk outside without parental supervision, especially on a Sunday afternoon. Very dangerous. Hopefully the kid recovers soon but this is a lesson to be learned
If that’s what happened, then I agree. But how do you know that’s what happened?
He is just a troll and not even a very good one at that.
Cmon. You weren’t there. Stop the nonsense and keep negativity out of a family tragedy
7 years old is fine though.
Quiet.
Quiet? You downplayed the Pete Walker DUI two years ago. Who are you to talk?
Yea i mean someone could have lost control from a medical emergency themselves, a car accident where 1 went over the side walk or anything. I live in Canada, in Newfoundland, in a city of about 275K and a lady took a LH turn and almost ran over my 4 yr old, wife and I as we crossed the road. Then after some words were exchanged she did a drift around us in the middle of the road and took off. only for her to come back 15 mins later, find me 2500 FT away, jump out of her car and pepper spray me. Some things really are other people fault.
She uh…she….came back and pepper sprayed you?
Yes, about 15 mins later while i was about 2500 feet away. My 4 yr old daughter was crying so it took us about 10 mins to start walking again after this lady drifted around us and took off. So we walk thru a Plaza’s parking lot, across a street, into a grocery stores parking lot. All of a sudden she ripps into the parking lot and jumps out of her car and starts walking towards me and my family. I walk to meet her as i knew she was up to something as her hand was in her pocket. She then pulled out a 12 inch can of pepper spray and and sprayed me, luckily i moved my head and it hit me in the forehead but when i wiped it off it went in my ear and down my neck. It was brutal
I spent a weekend in St Johns and 10% of the drivers do whatever TF they want. Like 1/10 cars actually aren’t following the rules of the road at all. Its actually insane.
Alot of the people get there license in smal towns with no street light so they dont know how to drive
Why is there someone that always has to blame someone whenever something bad happens?
LFG, you have no idea what happened. Expert in ass-hattery.
Just a serious question here. Are you just going for the troll effect or is that your first thought, “must be a parenting issue.”
This is why the mentality insane, attention-seekimg asshats should be banned from the comment threads.
LFG Mets- Absolutely horrendous story about a 4 yr old boy who’s injuries were so severe he had to be airlifted to Hospital…. and THATS your response?
Talk about tone deaf ….
Traffic isn’t a force of nature, it’s created by our infrastructure and our laws. If it’s creating such a dangerous situation that children can’t walk outside, that should be an indication to us that something is wrong and has to change.
God Bless the Swanson family. I hope their Son is back on his feet and feeling better soon
Ever parents worst nightmare. God was with this child. May he have a speedy recovery.
Okay if god was actually there he’s a big POS for not stopping the car
That’s sad. Prayers up for the Swansons right now
Horrible situation but glad he’s going to be ok! Definitely keep him in prayers
What does this have to do with trade rumors…
Probably with you being traded in by your wife for a decent human being.
When something like this happens, I think we can push the rumours by the wayside.
Terrible situation, hope the little guy gets better soon.
I never said I don’t feel bad for the guy. But I’m confused why this is showing up in my feed as this is a trade rumor app for baseball. Not a news outlet for car crashes
Feel free to keep scrolling you douchebag.
Not so Cute,
It’s affecting the player and the team, even though the team is secondary to the health of Swanson’s son.
It’s not that difficult.
I’ll echo many wishing Toby a speedy recovery. Good man, Erik. Family first. Baseball later.
Can’t believe how many rude and insensitive comments are in this thread. Some of you have no clue what it’s like to go through something like that and I hope you never do. Maybe in the future try to have a little restraint before you look like a jerk off.
Best wishes and strength for the Swanson family.
I see there being two reasons for this.
1. They don’t have kids so they don’t know how it would feel to them.
2. They’re just insensitive d-bags that want attention
I don’t have kids. You don’t need to have kids to have compassion.
Touche my friend. That is a good point.
Florida is the auto collision capital of the world
I hope Toby makes a full and speedy recovery.
Sorry to hear. Hope your son has a full speedy recovery
Where are the comments about how “back in the old days, players would never duck out on their teams for the birth of their children or anything”?
They would in Spring Training.
My prayers go out to the Sawnson family and especially for their little boy. The priority here is not how it happened but that he fully recovers.
Get well soon. I’ll continue to root against 25 of the Jays players, but I’ll be rooting for Swanson.