Son of Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson hit by car in Florida, airlifted to hospital

FILE – Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Erik Swanson walks to the dugout during a pitching change in the seventh inning of Game 2 of an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Minneapolis. Swanson has left the team to be with his family after his son, Toby, was hit by a car Sunday., Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson has left the team to be with his family after his son, Toby, was hit by a car Sunday.

Manager John Schneider said Toby was airlifted to a hospital, and he is “on the road to recovery.” Schneider also praised the first responders in Clearwater for their “incredible work.”

“Erik will be away from the team for a while, family comes first,” Schneider said Tuesday. “Our love, support, and prayers are with … the entire Swanson family.”

Swanson is going into his second season with Toronto and his sixth year in the majors overall. The 6-foot-3 right-hander is 8-14 with 10 saves and a 3.78 ERA in 195 games.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb