Erik Swanson

Erik Donald Swanson Bio

Erik Donald Swanson is an American former professional baseball pitcher who spent parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball. Born on September 4, 1993, in Fargo, North Dakota, Swanson played for the Seattle Mariners from 2019 through 2022 and the Toronto Blue Jays from 2023 until his retirement in 2025. Over his MLB career, he compiled an 11-16 win-loss record with a 3.97 earned run average and 281 strikeouts across 243 appearances, predominantly working out of the bullpen. Swanson announced his retirement from professional baseball on November 20, 2025.

Early Life and Background

Swanson was born in Fargo, North Dakota, and lived there until he was five years old. His family then relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended Mariemont High School and graduated in 2012. Swanson comes from an athletic family. His grandfather, Dwaine Hoberg, served as mayor of Moorhead, Minnesota. His father, Mark Swanson, played college football for the North Dakota State Bison. During his youth, Swanson also lived in Newburgh, Indiana, for several years before moving back to Fargo in 2015. At the time of his retirement, Swanson was one of only two active MLB players born in North Dakota, alongside pitcher Matt Strahm of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Path to Professional Baseball

After high school, Swanson continued his baseball career at the collegiate level. He spent one season at Wabash Valley College before transferring to Iowa Western Community College, where he played in 2014. At Iowa Western, Swanson helped lead the team to the JUCO World Series championship in 2014, showcasing his potential as a future professional pitcher. His performance at the junior college level caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts, setting the stage for his selection in the 2014 MLB Draft.

Erik Donald Swanson Career

Minor League Development (2014–2018)

The Texas Rangers selected Swanson in the eighth round, with the 246th overall pick, of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut that same year with the Low-A Spokane Indians, where he appeared in 24 games out of the bullpen, logging a 1-2 record with a 4.63 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 23 and one-third innings. The 2015 season saw Swanson split time among four affiliates: the rookie-level Arizona League Rangers, Single-A Hickory Crawdads, Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, and Triple-A Round Rock Express. He combined for a 1-0 record and 2.35 ERA across 15 and one-third innings of work.

On August 1, 2016, Swanson was traded by the Rangers to the New York Yankees as part of a package that included Dillon Tate and Nick Green in exchange for Carlos Beltran. He finished the 2016 season with Single-A Charleston RiverDogs. Swanson spent the 2017 campaign with High-A Tampa Yankees, posting a 7-3 record with a 3.95 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 20 starts. The 2018 season proved to be his breakthrough year in the minors. He began with Double-A Trenton Thunder, rehabbed with Low-A Staten Island Yankees, and earned a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in May. Across 24 games (22 starts) with the three affiliates, Swanson went 8-2 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 139 strikeouts across 121 and two-thirds innings.

Seattle Mariners Era (2019–2022)

On November 19, 2018, the Yankees traded Swanson, Justus Sheffield, and Dom Thompson-Williams to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for James Paxton. The Mariners added him to their 40-man roster the following day. Swanson opened the 2019 season with Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers before receiving his first major league promotion on April 9, 2019. He made his MLB debut on April 11. Swanson appeared in 27 games (eight starts) during his rookie campaign, recording a 1-5 record with a 5.74 ERA, 52 strikeouts, and two saves across 58 innings.

The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Swanson made nine appearances for the Mariners but struggled, going 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA and nine strikeouts over seven and two-thirds innings. He rebounded in 2021 with 33 contests, compiling a 0-3 record but improving his ERA to 3.31 with 35 strikeouts and one save across 53 and two-thirds innings. The 2022 season marked Swanson strongest year in Seattle. He made 57 appearances, primarily in relief, and posted a 3-2 record with a 1.68 ERA and 70 strikeouts across 53 and two-thirds innings, establishing himself as a reliable option in the Mariners bullpen.

Toronto Blue Jays Era (2023–2025)

On November 16, 2022, the Mariners traded Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Teoscar Hernandez. Swanson arrived in Toronto with an opportunity to contribute in a high-profile bullpen. In 2023, he appeared in 69 games out of the bullpen, registering a 4-2 record with a 2.97 ERA, 75 strikeouts, and four saves across 66 and two-thirds innings. His performance helped solidify the Blue Jays relief corps and demonstrated his ability to handle high-leverage situations.

The 2024 season presented challenges. Swanson pitched in 45 contests for Toronto, compiling a 2-2 record and 5.03 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 39 and one-third innings. His struggles continued into 2025. Swanson began the campaign on the injured list due to median nerve entrapment in his throwing arm and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 5. He was activated for his season debut on June 1 but appeared in only six games, struggling to a 1-0 record and 15.19 ERA with three strikeouts across five and one-third innings. The Blue Jays designated Swanson for assignment on June 17, and he cleared waivers before being released on June 23, 2025.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Throughout his career, Swanson primarily worked as a relief pitcher, valued for his ability to log multiple innings and retire batters in crucial situations. His time in Seattle’s bullpen, particularly during the 2022 season, showcased his effectiveness with a 1.68 ERA and a strikeout-per-inning rate that demonstrated his ability to miss bats at the major league level.

Notable Events and Milestones

Swanson’s career included several memorable moments. His MLB debut on April 11, 2019, marked the culmination of years of minor league development. The 2022 season represented his career highlight, as he emerged as one of Seattle’s most reliable relievers with a sub-2.00 ERA. His trade to Toronto in 2022 brought him to a playoff-contending team, and his 2023 season with the Blue Jays (2.97 ERA in 69 appearances) proved he could compete at a high level in the American League East.

Erik Donald Swanson Career Wins

Swanson appeared in 243 major league games across his seven seasons, working primarily as a relief pitcher. He accumulated an 11-16 win-loss record with a 3.97 ERA and 281 strikeouts over his MLB career.

MLB Career Highlights

Swanson’s most productive MLB season came in 2022 with the Seattle Mariners, where he went 3-2 with a 1.68 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 57 appearances. His best all-around statistical year was 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays, when he posted a 4-2 record with a 2.97 ERA, 75 strikeouts, and four saves across 69 relief appearances. The 2023 campaign represented his highest save total and most strikeouts in a single season. His 69 appearances with Toronto tied his career high for games pitched in a season.

Minor League Achievements

Prior to reaching the majors, Swanson built an impressive minor league portfolio. His standout season came in 2018 with three affiliates in the Yankees system, when he went a combined 8-2 with a 2.66 ERA and 139 strikeouts across 121 and two-thirds innings. He also won the JUCO World Series with Iowa Western Community College in 2014 during his amateur career.

Erik Donald Swanson Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Swanson comes from a distinguished family with deep roots in the Midwest. His grandfather, Dwaine Hoberg, served as mayor of Moorhead, Minnesota, adding a layer of civic leadership to his family heritage. His father, Mark Swanson, carried on a family tradition of athletic excellence by playing college football for the North Dakota State Bison, one of the premier Football Championship Subdivision programs in the country.

Personal Life

Swanson married his wife in 2018, and the couple makes their home in Fargo, North Dakota. They are proud parents of two children together. In a frightening incident on February 25, 2024, their son, Toby, was struck by a car in Dunedin, Florida, while the family was in the area during the baseball season. Toby was airlifted to a Florida children’s hospital in critical condition. Less than a week later, the boy was released from the hospital, prompting Swanson to express gratitude by stating that God is good. The family divides their time between Fargo and wherever Swanson’s baseball career takes them during the season.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season proved to be the final chapter of Erik Swanson’s professional baseball career. He began the year on the injured list, battling median nerve entrapment in his throwing arm, a condition that required an extended rehabilitation period. After being transferred to the 60-day injured list in May, Swanson was activated for his season debut on June 1. However, his return to the mound was brief and unsuccessful. In just six appearances, he logged five and one-third innings while struggling to a 15.19 ERA, allowing opponents to score at an alarming rate. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on June 17, and after clearing waivers, Swanson was released on June 23, bringing an abrupt end to his major league tenure. He announced his retirement from professional baseball on November 20, 2025, concluding a career that spanned 11 seasons and included memorable moments with both the Mariners and Blue Jays. Swanson leaves the game as one of the few major league players to ever represent the state of North Dakota at the highest level of baseball.