Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Swanson will be away from the team as his son is in critical condition.
The 4-year-old boy was hit by a car in Clearwater near the team’s spring training facility in Dunedin.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the boy was airlifted to a hospital with a bruise on Sunday and that Swanson will be away from the team for “some time.”
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No. 50 Erik Swanson of the Toronto Blue Jays plays against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 4, 2023. (David Berding/Getty Images)
“Thanks to the incredible work of Clearwater’s first responders, Toby is on the road to recovery and surrounded by his family,” the Blue Jays said in a statement. fox 13 tampa bay. “Eric will be away from the team for some time. Family comes first. Our love, support and prayers go out to Eric, Madison, Toby and the entire Swanson family. Out of respect for Eric and his family, We are not leaving the team.”Please comment further on this. ”
“We have incredible resources across this organization,” Schneider said. Via MLB.com. “We have an incredibly close group of players in the clubhouse. They spend a lot of time together off the field with other families. We rely on them to come together quickly as an organization. “You can help in any way you can. They’ve been amazing. Eric and his wife Madison are so grateful for the support and we will continue to provide support for as long as they need it.”
Eric Swanson, No. 50 of the Toronto Blue Jays, pitches in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 3, 2023. (Steven Maturen/Getty Images)
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“As a father, I have two boys, ages 7 and 5, and that really touches my heart. We will continue to be there for them. When we talk about family and life, baseball takes a backseat. “We will continue to do so.” “Support him. The players have been really great with him so far, and please reach out as well.” We must also not forget the players’ wives and loved ones.It was a difficult few days, but I am really, really happy to have met them.”Support for Eric. ”
Police said the driver of the vehicle, an Opal Sands valet driver, remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
Swanson is in his second spring with Toronto after being traded to the Seattle Mariners in the 2022 offseason. Toronto sent Teoscar Hernandez as part of the deal.
Swanson struggled in his first two seasons, batting just 6.58 in 36 games in 2019 and 2020, but has found success over the past three years.
Since 2021, he has held a 2.60 ERA and posted a career-best 1.68 ERA in 2022.
Erik Swanson, No. 50 of the Toronto Blue Jays, pitches in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs during an MLB game at Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 13, 2023. (Mark Brinch/Getty Images)
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Last year, Swanson struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings and posted a 2.97 ERA. He played in 69 games, keeping his opponents scoreless in 55 of them.
From August 7 until the end of the season, he allowed just two earned runs in 16.1 innings (1.10 ERA).
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