Erik Swanson

Erik Donald Swanson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 220 lb.
• School Wabash Valley Community College, Iowa Western Community College
• High School Mariemont High School
• Debut April 11, 2019

• Born September 4, 1993 in Terrace Park, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Erik Swanson was an 8th-round selection by the Texas Rangers in the 2014 amateur draft. The scout was Dustin Smith. He turned down a scholarship offer to the University of Pittsburgh to sign.

He made his pro debut in 2014 with the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League, going 1-2, 4.63 in 16 games as a reliever. In 2015, he had the distinction of playing at the four main levels of the minor league ladder - Rookie Class, Class A AA and AAA - while playing only 10 games as he stopped with the AZL Rangers, Hickory Crawdads, Frisco Rough Riders and Round Rock Express. He had only one game each in the Arizona League, Texas League and Pacific Coast League and was 1-0, 2.35 in the 10 games, pitching 15 1/3 innings. His season was cut short by an injury. In 2016 sent him back to Hickory where he was now a starting pitcher. In 19 games, he went 6-4, 3.43 and struck out 78 batters in 81 1/3 innings. he was chosen to pitch in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

On August 1, 2016, he was one of three prospects traded to the New York Yankees in return for veteran OF Carlos Beltran; joining him were Dillon Tate and Nick Green. He finished that season with the Charleston RiverDogs, still in the Sally League, going 0-1, 4.20 in 5 games. In 2017, he moved up to the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League where he was 7-3, 3.95 in 20 starts, pitching 100 1/3 innings. In 2018, he split his time between the AA Trenton Thunder (5-0, 0.42) and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (3-2, 3.86) also making a couple of rehabilitation appearances for the Class A Staten Island Yankees. Overall, his record was 8-2, 2.66, with 139 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings. On November 19th, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners along with P Justus Sheffield and OF Dom Thompson-Williams in return for P James Paxton.

After making his debut with the Mariners on April 11, 2019, he earned his first major league win on May 5h when he defeated the Cleveland Indians, 10-0. He allowed just 2 hits in 6 innings and benefited from a grand slam off the bat of Jay Bruce in the 1st. However, it was his only victory of the year as he finished at 1-5, 5.74 in 27 games, including 8 starts. he did record 2 saves. He then had a very poor 2020 season, as he was 0-2, 12.91 in 9 games, spending the bulk of the pandemic-shortened season at the Mariners' alternate training site. He did much better in 2021, even if he failed to earn a win, as his ERA was 3.31 in 33 games, including a pair of starts. His record was 0-3, putting him at 1-10 for his career, but he did add a save and his peripheral numbers were all good (35 strikeouts and 28 hits in 35 1/3 innings). He then broke out in 2022 with a minute ERA of 1.68 in 57 games, to go along with a record of 3-2, 3 saves and 70 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings. He appeared in the postseason for the first time when he pitched one perfect inning in the marathon Game 3 of the Division Series against the Houston Astros on October 15th, preserving a scoreless tie that would last until the 18th inning.

On November 16, 2022, he was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays alongside prospect Adam Macko in return for slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernandez - an indication that he was held in high regard by his new team.

Related Sites

• Erik Swanson on mlb.com
• BR Minors page