The Blue Jays' 32-year-old right-handed pitcher has announced his retirement following an MLB career that included time with Toronto and the Mariners.

Billy Heyen

•
Blue Jays' 32-year old righty pitcher announces retirement after MLB career in Toronto and with Mariners image

TL;DR

  • Relief pitcher Erik Swanson announced his retirement from MLB after a 12-year career.
  • Swanson expressed deep gratitude for his family, teammates, coaches, and everyone who supported him.
  • He played for the Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, making 246 appearances with a 4.20 ERA.
  • Swanson's career included notable performances, especially a 1.68 ERA in 2022 for the Mariners.

Despite an undesirable conclusion, right-handed relief pitcher Erik Swanson enjoyed a commendable MLB career overall.

He called it quits this week, announcing his retirement in a post on Instagram.

Swanson wrote an awesome message with the post: 

As I sit here trying to figure out where to even begin, typing this for what feels like the 100th time… The one word I keep coming back to is GRATEFUL!
I'm deeply thankful for my family, agents, teammates, coaches, medical personnel, clubhouse staff, and all others who eased my life and my family's lives. It's one of the remarkable aspects of this sport; numerous individuals work diligently behind the scenes to ensure everything functions smoothly.

I'm profoundly thankful for my parents' unwavering support, always providing whatever I required, whenever I required it. Their backing has been instrumental in my current achievements.

I'm struggling to find the right words to express my immense gratitude and appreciation for my wife (I'll attempt this in a future post). She's supported me through everything; she's my constant companion!

This game transported me to unexpected destinations. It provided me with cities to reside in and individuals to consider family. It's astonishing how many connections this game has fostered in my life. From enduring friendships established in Toronto and Winnipeg, to acquaintances in major hubs like Seattle and quaint locales such as Hickory, NC, and all the numerous other points visited along the way. It's truly remarkable how a straightforward game can introduce so many wonderful individuals into your existence.

My journey in this sport was truly incredible. I'm grateful to all who assisted me and to everyone who cheered me on.

You all have truly made this journey an unforgettable 12 years.

Originally selected in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Swanson attended Iowa Western Community College. He grew up in the Cincinnati region and was a student at Mariemont High School.

He was subsequently transferred to the Yankees in the Carlos Beltrán deal, and then to the Mariners as part of the James Paxton transaction.

Swanson made his MLB debut for the Mariners in 2019.

Across 126 contests for The Mariners, he registered a 4.13 ERA. This performance featured an outstanding 1.68 ERA during the 2022 season over 57 outings, where he recorded 70 strikeouts in 53.2 innings.

Swanson spent the 2023-2025 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a 2.97 ERA in 69 appearances in 2023.

That dropped to 5.03 in 2024 and a rough nine runs allowed in just 5.1 innings in 2025.

Swanson's MLB career ended up featuring 246 outings, a 4.20 ERA and 281 strikeouts in 266 innings.

Now he moves on to the next chapter.

More news:

Contributing Writer