Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson is coping with a median nerve entrapment in his throwing arm, because the Jays introduced to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson and different reporters yesterday. Swanson obtained a cortisone shot to cope with the problem, and gained’t throw for a couple of days whereas the shot takes impact.
It nonetheless appears probably that this setback is sufficient to put Swanson on the injured listing at the start of the season, as was associated final week when Swanson reported discomfort in his throwing elbow. An MRI got here again clear with none signal of structural harm, so Swanson has a minimum of averted any type of longer-term elbow downside.
A median nerve entrapment (which is expounded to carpal tunnel syndrome) isn’t precisely a small matter since nerve points haven’t any set restoration timeline. On the plus aspect, there hasn’t been any indication that Swanson would possibly miss any nice period of time, even when a extra concrete plan may not be identified till the right-hander begins throwing once more.
Acquired from the Mariners within the 2022-2023 offseason, Swanson was excellent in his first yr in Toronto, however accidents contributed to a tough begin to his 2024 marketing campaign. Swanson handled some forearm tightness throughout final yr’s Spring Coaching and a subsequent IL stint delayed his begin to the season, and he then struggled so badly over his first 18 appearances that he was despatched to Triple-A. Swanson returned to the large leagues after the All-Star break after which appeared like his previous self, making for some reasonably evident splits — a 9.20 ERA in 14 2/3 innings within the first half and a 2.55 ERA over 24 2/3 frames within the second half.
Given the dismal state of Toronto’s bullpen final season, the Blue Jays badly want Swanson to remain wholesome and totally bounce again to his previous kind as a key setup man. New signing Jeff Hoffman seems to be to be in line for the nearer’s job, with Chad Inexperienced, Yimi Garcia, Nick Sandlin, and Swanson all lined up for high-leverage work.
