When the Mariners traded James Paxton to the Yankees, Erik Swanson was the high-floor part of the return. And yet, through his first three partial seasons with Seattle, he looked like he might not even achieve “useful” status, racking up a 5.44 ERA and a 5.38 FIP over 100 innings between 2019 and 2021. But something’s happened in 2022: the Fargo native is suddenly striking out more than a third of the batters he’s faced and hardly walking anyone. Among the 247 pitchers who’ve thrown at least 20 innings in relief this year, Swanson ranks fifth in K%-BB%, at 30.
Erik Swanson figured it out
