Former Bullpen Mainstay Announces Retirement After 7 Seasons

November 21, 2025 , , ,
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Erik Swanson throws a pitch during 2024 game.

Erik Swanson is officially calling it a career. 

The 32-year-old right-handed reliever announced his retirement on Instagram, reflecting on a seven-year MLB run that took him from small towns like Hickory, N.C., to big league stops with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. 

Drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2014, Swanson was later dealt to the New York Yankees and then to Seattle, where he finally broke through as a late-inning arm.

From Mariners Breakout to Blue Jays Bullpen Mainstay

Swanson’s best work came in Seattle in 2022, when he posted a dominant 1.68 ERA with 70 strikeouts and just 10 walks over 53.2 innings. 

That performance set up his move to Toronto in the Teoscar Hernández trade, and he quickly became a trusted piece of the Blue Jays bullpen. In 2023, he delivered a 2.97 ERA across nearly 67 innings, stabilizing high-leverage spots during a playoff push and looking like a long-term fit at the back end of the staff.

Injuries, Decline, and a Tough Ending

The last two seasons told a different story. Nerve issues in his throwing arm and recurring injuries sapped Swanson’s velocity and command, leading to inflated ERAs in 2024 and 2025 and ultimately his release this past June. 

Instead of chasing a minor league deal and trying to grind his way back, Swanson chose to step away on his own terms. He finishes his MLB career with a 4.20 ERA, 281 strikeouts in 266 innings.

Judging by the way he talked about the relationships the game gave him, it would not be surprising to see him pop up again one day in an off-field role.

Photo Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

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