Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson has been shut down with some elbow discomfort and is slated for an MRI, reviews Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. The additional testing will shed some gentle on the subsequent steps however Zwelling relays that Swanson is prone to start the season on the injured checklist.
Time will inform how regarding this growth is, but it surely’s at all times a bit scary when a pitcher’s elbow is a spotlight. It’s additionally the second straight spring with such a priority for Swanson. This time final yr, Swanson first needed to depart the membership after his son was struck by a automobile. As soon as his son had recovered, the righty was slowed in camp by some forearm tightness. His MRI at the moment didn’t reveal any structural harm however he did begin the season on the injured checklist.
Swanson was capable of be reinstated by mid-April however struggled badly. He had allowed 14 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings by the top of Might and was optioned to Triple-A. He did end sturdy, getting recalled on the finish of June and posting a 2.81 earned run common over his last 25 2/3 innings.
Acquired from the Mariners as a part of the Teoscar Hernández commerce going into 2023, Swanson had a 2.97 ERA in his first season as a Blue Jay. He struck out 28.6% of batters confronted whereas giving out walks at an 8% clip. He racked up 29 holds and 4 saves in that point. He was absolutely anticipated to play a key position within the bullpen final yr till his forearm problem and early-season struggles. The sturdy end left some optimism that he might get again on monitor in 2025, however now this newest elbow discomfort casts an ominous shadow.
The Toronto bullpen ought to look very totally different this yr in comparison with 2024. Former nearer Jordan Romano had much more important damage troubles than Swanson final yr and was non-tendered at season’s finish. Génesis Cabrera, final yr’s workforce chief in aid innings, was outrighted and elected free company. Trevor Richards and Nate Pearson have been flipped eventually yr’s deadline.
Forward of 2025, the membership signed Jeff Hoffman, re-signed Yimi GarcÃa and bought Nick Sandlin within the Andrés Giménez deal. These three and holdover Chad Inexperienced ought to take many of the excessive leverage work for the Jays. Swanson would have been in that group as nicely however he seemingly gained’t be an possibility, at the least for the beginning of the season and maybe longer, relying on what the MRI machine finds.
Assuming Swanson misses a while, the Jays must determine who will get his bullpen alternatives. Assuming Yariel RodrÃguez winds up in an extended aid position, the Jays ought to have three spots alongside Hoffman, Inexperienced, GarcÃa and Sandlin. None of these guys are lefties, so the Jays may lean in the direction of having a southpaw or two. They’ve Brendon Little, Josh Walker and Easton Lucas on the 40-man. Richard Lovelady can also be in camp as a non-roster invitee. Different righties on the roster embrace Tommy Nance, Zach Pop, Ryan Burr and Nick Robertson. Zwelling lists some pitchers which are impressing in camp thus far, with among the aforementioned gamers in addition to NRIs Kevin Gowdy and Braydon Fisher.
