Son of Blue Jays' Swanson out of intensive care after being hit by car

LAKELAND, Fla. — Toronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson's son Toby has been discharged from the pediatric intensive care unit.

The four-year-old boy was hit by a car Sunday in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and was airlifted in critical condition to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Swanson's wife Madison shared the update on her son's recovery in an Instagram story Wednesday night.

"We have been overwhelmed with a huge amount of love and support over the last few days," she wrote.

"The most important update is that Toby is out of the PICU and we are continuing to take it day by day."

Police and fire crews responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian call Sunday morning in Clearwater Beach involving a young boy who sustained potentially life-threatening injuries, Clearwater Police said Tuesday in a news release.

"We are so grateful for the speedy first responders to the accident, to the pedestrians that helped as we waited the next step, and to the amazing staff at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital," Madison Swanson wrote on Instagram. "Someone has truly been watching over my little man."

The child was struck by a 2024 Ford Expedition being operated by a valet driver near the Opal Sands Resort, according to an updated release issued by public information officer Rob Shaw.

The driver remained on scene and was co-operating with the investigation, the release said. Details on the injuries were not released.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 29, 2024.