MLB pitcher Erik Swanson will be away from the team “for a while” following his four-year-old son’s hospitalization after he was struck by a car in Florida near the team’s spring training complex.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that Swanson’s son Toby was hit by a car on Sunday in Clearwater, Florida, the New York Post reported.
“Thanks to the incredible work from the Clearwater first responders, Toby is on the road to recovery and is surrounded by his family,” Schneider said, before he said that the Blue Jays pitcher will be away from the team “for a while.”
“The guys have been phenomenal so far,” Schneider added, of his team’s support for Swanson and family. “And you can’t forget about players wives and significant others who have reached out. It’s been a rough couple of days but it’s nice to see the support.”
Blue Jays Pitcher Erik Swanson’s Son, 4, Struck by Car and Airlifted to Hospital: ‘On the Road to Recovery’ https://t.co/9Td9tCZZED
— People (@people) February 27, 2024
“Baseball is secondary when you are talking about family and life,” Schneider continued. “Family comes first. Our love, support and prayers are with Erik, Madison, Toby and the entire Swanson family.”
According to a police report, by the Toronto Sun, Toby was hit by a Ford Expedition near a hotel in Clearwater. Swanson’s son had to be airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg where he remains in critical condition, the outlet noted.
The MLB pitcher and his wife Madison, have yet to speak publicly about what happened. The two also share a one-year-old daughter Parker Kari, the outlet noted.
Earlier this month, Swanson shared a couple of cute pictures of himself and his young son walking through a parking lot where the spring training center is located.
“Put Toby through a full day of work at the field today!” the Blue Jays pitcher captioned the post.
The 2024 season will be Swanson’s second with the team after the Blue Jays acquired him from the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Teoscar Hernández in November 2022, the Post noted.
In his first season with the team, Swanson appeared in 69 games and finished with a 4-2 record, 2.97 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 66.2 innings, ESPN noted.
The Blue Jays’ 2024 season kicks off March 28 against American League East rival the Tampa Bay Rays, the outlet noted.