ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Blue Jays pitcher Erik Swanson said his family is feeling "very, very lucky" as his 4-year-old son recovers from being hit by a car last month in Clearwater.
According to the MLB, it was Swanson's first time speaking to the media since his son, Toby, was hit by a valet driver's SUV on Feb. 25 in Clearwater and airlifted in critical condition to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
“I stand here, very happily, telling you that in the next day or two, he should probably be going home,” Swanson told the league. “Just based on the situation, we’re very, very lucky with everything that happened and the outcome of where we’re at now."
He praised his wife, Madison, for her strength and courage, and thanked first responders, hospital staff and his entire Blue Jays family for their unwavering support.
“All of my family here with Toronto, the front office, there’s so many people I can name with teammates, their wives. Everybody has been amazing," Swanson told the MLB.
Right after Toby was hospitalized, Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced Erik Swanson would be taking a break from the team to focus on family. The team said he's recently been back at the Blue Jays player development complex between time at the hospital.
“Toby is a very charismatic boy. A very courageous boy,” Swanson told the league. “He’s strong, tough, very outgoing. I think his personality allowed him to push through a lot of the struggles he’s had to go through the last 10 days and get him through some of those longer days at the hospital. He’s been extremely tough and courageous.”