Erik Swanson – Toronto Blue Jays Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Erik Swanson, or “Swanny Pops” as some call him, has made a name for himself as a reliable pitcher in Major League Baseball. He debuted after growing up in Fargo, North Dakota, where he was born on September 4, 1993. Swanson attended Iowa Western Community College and then the Texas Rangers picked him in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He’s bounced around a bit, pitching for the Seattle Mariners and, more recently, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Erik Swanson’s current contract with the Toronto Blue Jays is worth $3,000,000 for the 2025 season, making it his most lucrative deal to date. That’s a big jump from his $1,250,000 salary in 2023 and shows the Blue Jays have real faith in what he brings to the mound. He’s seen his career earnings tick up over the years, especially from his $711,600 season with the Mariners in 2022.

At 31, Swanson has built up a net worth estimated at $3,143,232 over his time in pro ball. That number reflects not just his salary but the value he’s brought as a consistent bullpen arm. If he keeps pitching at this level, you’d expect his market value and bank account to grow even more.

Early Life and Background

Erik Swanson grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, born on September 4, 1993. Those early years in Fargo played a role in shaping him as an athlete.

Family and Childhood

Erik Donald Swanson spent his childhood in Fargo, where his baseball skills started to show. Growing up in the Midwest, he experienced the kind of tough winters and short baseball seasons that force young athletes to make the most of their training time.

We don’t hear much about his parents or siblings, but it’s not hard to imagine that his North Dakota roots helped instill a strong work ethic. The climate there isn’t exactly forgiving, so you’ve got to be determined if you want to play baseball.

Swanson’s nickname, “Swanny Pops,” stuck with him from his younger days and still follows him into his pro career. It’s got a friendly, lighthearted ring to it—maybe a clue to his personality off the field.

Education and Amateur Career

Swanson’s baseball path took a big step forward at Iowa Western Community College. That decision turned out to be crucial—he honed his pitching and got noticed by scouts.

His time at Iowa Western CC paid off, since the Texas Rangers grabbed him in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, 246th overall. That marked the start of his professional journey.

Before he reached the majors, Swanson put in the work in the minors, building up his pitching arsenal and getting stronger. Those amateur years gave him the basics and the confidence to compete at higher levels.

Coming from Fargo and making it all the way to professional baseball is no small feat. It speaks to Swanson’s talent and drive.

Professional Baseball Career

Erik Swanson has carved out a solid career as a pitcher, working his way up through the minors before finding his place in Major League Baseball. He’s spent time with more than one organization and shifted from starting pitching to a relief role.

Draft and Minor League Development

The Texas Rangers drafted Swanson in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, kicking off his pro baseball adventure. He started off in the Rangers’ farm system, where he worked on his pitching.

In 2016, the Rangers traded him to the New York Yankees in a deal that sent Carlos Beltran to Texas. That move gave Swanson a new environment to develop his skills.

He showed real promise in the minors, especially in 2018 when he put up strong numbers at several levels. While pitching for the Yankees’ Triple-A team, he impressed with his command and a fastball that hit the mid-90s.

MLB Debut and Rookie Season

Swanson made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners on April 11, 2019, after the Yankees traded him as part of the James Paxton deal. He pitched in 27 games his rookie year, including 8 starts.

He finished that season with a 5.74 ERA over 58 innings. The numbers weren’t great, but he flashed some potential, especially with his four-seam fastball and a slider that kept getting better.

He didn’t get any AL Rookie of the Year buzz, but his first year in the majors gave him valuable experience. It also set the stage for his move to the bullpen, which ended up being a better fit for his skills.

Team Transitions and Trades

After establishing himself as a steady bullpen arm in Seattle, Swanson got traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on November 16, 2022. The Mariners sent him and Adam Macko to Toronto for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.

Swanson signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jays for $1.25 million in 2023, avoiding arbitration. His role in Toronto’s bullpen grew as he kept proving himself as a reliable reliever.

As of 2025, Swanson is still with the Blue Jays but has had some bad luck with injuries, landing on the 60-day IL. His contract situation could get interesting as he nears free agency.

Notable Achievements and Highlights

Swanson has become known as a dependable reliever with a great strikeout-to-walk ratio. He hasn’t made an All-Star team yet, but at times his numbers have put him among the better relievers in baseball.

His standout year came in 2022 with the Mariners, when he posted a 1.68 ERA over 53.2 innings, striking out 70 and walking just 10. That season really raised his profile before the trade to Toronto.

With the Blue Jays, he’s kept showing his value as a high-leverage reliever when healthy. His fastball is lively, and his secondary pitches have become real weapons against hitters on both sides of the plate.

Swanson’s career so far is a good example of how pitchers can evolve—sometimes you find your groove in a different role than you expected.

Player Performance and Statistics

Erik Swanson’s career has shown his growth into a reliable reliever with strong strikeout numbers and solid control. His stats show a pitcher who’s developed a skill set that works especially well in tight spots.

Pitching Metrics and WAR

Swanson has delivered solid value in his MLB career, especially after moving to the bullpen full time. His WAR (Wins Above Replacement) numbers got a boost once he became a reliever, showing he fits well in that role.

In 2022, he had his best ERA yet—1.68 over 57 appearances with the Mariners before the trade to Toronto. Some key numbers:

• ERA: Career 4.03, but much lower as a reliever
• WHIP: Usually around 1.00-1.20 in relief
• Innings pitched: Typically 50-60 per season as a reliever

He’s had some durability issues, including a stint on the 60-day IL with the Blue Jays.

Advanced Analytics and Statcast

Swanson’s Statcast data helps explain his success out of the bullpen. His four-seam fastball averages 93-95 mph, but hitters say it feels even faster because of his extension and release point.

His splitter has become a real weapon:

• High spin rate (top 25% of MLB relievers)
• Vertical drop that’s 6-8 inches more than average
• Tunnels well with his fastball

When you look at his expected stats (xERA, xBA, xSLG), Swanson usually beats league averages. He keeps his hard-hit rate low, with opponents rarely cracking 35% hard contact.

Strikeout and Walk Rate Analysis

Swanson’s strikeout and walk rates show how he’s developed into a control pitcher with real swing-and-miss stuff. His strikeout rate has climbed, reaching over 30% in his best years.

Some numbers:

• K/9: About 10-12 strikeouts per nine innings
• BB/9: Usually under 2.5 walks per nine
• K/BB ratio: Often above 4.0, which puts him among the better relievers

He’s gotten much better at sequencing his pitches since his Mariners debut in 2019. Swanson now uses his fastball up in the zone to set up his splitter down, creating a tough combo for hitters.

Defensive Performance: Outs Above Average

Pitchers don’t usually get much attention for Outs Above Average (OAA), but Swanson fields his position well. At 6’3″, he’s got the size and athleticism to react quickly off the mound.

As a reliever, Swanson has shown:

• Quick reactions on comebackers
• Solid fielding percentage on balls in play
• Accurate throws to the bases

His defense adds a little extra value that doesn’t always show up in pitching stats. Swanson handles bunts and comebackers just fine and has decent range for a pitcher.

He’s about average at holding runners, with a caught stealing percentage that’s right around league norms.

Contract Details and Transactions

Erik Swanson’s career has included a handful of contracts and team changes since he entered the majors. His financial path looks pretty typical for a reliever who’s worked his way up.

Initial Contracts and Signing Bonuses

After the Texas Rangers drafted him in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Swanson signed his first pro contract. Like most minor leaguers, he started out with the standard rookie deal.

We don’t have exact numbers for his signing bonus, but minor league salaries at that stage usually range from $1,100 to $2,700 a month. Those early years laid the groundwork for his MLB career.

Major League Contracts and Arbitration

When Swanson made it to the majors, his earnings jumped. In 2021, he played on a pre-arbitration deal, then signed a one-year contract for about $711,600 in 2022 with the Seattle Mariners.

After the trade to Toronto, Swanson became arbitration-eligible. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.25 million contract for 2023 with the Blue Jays. That was a nice bump as he established himself in the bullpen.

Most recently, Swanson signed a $3 million contract for the 2025 season, again skipping arbitration. His current net worth sits at about $3,143,232, which sums up his career earnings so far.

Trades, Transfers, and Free Agency

Swanson’s career has seen a handful of big moves. He started out with the Rangers organization, but in 2016, the Yankees brought him in as part of the Carlos Beltran deal.

Then, in November 2018, the Yankees sent him to the Seattle Mariners in the James Paxton trade. Seattle gave Swanson a real shot to prove himself as a major league reliever, and he definitely carved out a spot for himself there.

By November 2022, the Mariners traded Swanson to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Adam Macko. In return, they got outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

This switch to Toronto kicked off a totally new chapter for Swanson. He’s continued to grow as a bullpen arm for the Blue Jays.

Swanson hasn’t hit full free agency yet. Major leaguers usually need six years of service time for that, and he’s not quite there.

His current contract keeps him with Toronto through the 2025 season.

Net Worth, Endorsements, and Personal Ventures

Erik Swanson has done pretty well for himself, both on and off the baseball field.

He’s built up his finances through his MLB career and has started getting involved in business and charity work too.

Estimated Net Worth

As of 2025, Erik Swanson’s net worth is estimated at about $3.14 million. Most of that comes from his baseball earnings.

Right now, he’s making $1.25 million a year according to SalarySport. Some reports say he signed a $3 million contract with the Blue Jays, so maybe the numbers just come from different sources or cover different years.

Just to clear up any confusion, there’s another Eric Swanson (spelled with a “c”) in the corporate world, and he’s got a net worth of $21.6 million—but that’s not the baseball player.

Swanson’s financial picture has kept growing as he’s moved from team to team.

Sponsorships and Brand Deals

Swanson hasn’t shared a ton about his endorsement deals. He’s a 6’3″, 225-pound MLB pitcher, so he’s definitely got the look that athletic brands like.

Most players at his level usually land sponsorships with companies that make baseball gear—gloves, cleats, uniforms, that sort of thing. These deals can add a bit of extra income on top of their contracts.

He keeps a pretty low-key social media presence, especially compared to some of the bigger stars. That might limit his appeal to major brands, but he’s still a solid pick for regional companies, especially in the cities where he’s played.

Charitable Work and Off-Field Interests

Swanson really cares about giving back to communities, though he prefers to keep most of this work under the radar. He often joins team-organized community events and helps out at youth baseball clinics in the cities where he’s played.

He’s also dabbled in business ventures outside of baseball. Swanson has taken an interest in real estate and investments. He partners with professionals like Mike King in investment brokerage, mainly focusing on single-tenant net properties. (Though, honestly, this might refer to another Erik Swanson in real estate.)

When the offseason rolls around, Swanson spends time working with youth baseball development programs. He works closely with young pitchers, sharing advice and encouragement. You can tell he’s passionate about the sport, and he genuinely wants to help the next generation of baseball players grow.