It’s another injury-riddled spring for a key member of the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen.

Right-hander Erik Swanson, who’s yet to appear in games this spring due to a right forearm injury, will likely miss the start of the 2025 season after experiencing right elbow discomfort following a recent bullpen session. The team sent him for an MRI and is still awaiting the results.

The 31-year-old has been shut down from throwing indefinitely. With less than three weeks until Opening Day, he probably won’t have enough runway to prepare for the regular season, likely necessitating a season-opening IL stint for a second consecutive year.

Swanson began last season on the IL due to right forearm inflammation and returned midway through the opening month of the schedule. But he wasn’t the ultra-reliable, back-end reliever that proved vitally important during the 2023 campaign, as he struggled to a 9.22 ERA and 7.34 FIP over 13.2 innings before being demoted to triple-A Buffalo in late May.

Nearly a month passed before Swanson returned from the Bisons, although it wasn’t until near the end of the season that he started to find his footing again, particularly with his command. He looked much more like his ’23 form down the stretch, pitching to a much-improved 1.32 ERA and 2.14 FIP over his final 15 relief outings, punching out 18 and walking only three over 13.2 innings.

The Blue Jays opted to bring him back over the off-season rather than non-tendering the veteran righty, avoiding his final arbitration year by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $3 million.

Missing the start of this season is a major blow for Swanson, especially given the struggles he faced while playing catch-up out of the gate a season ago. It’s also unfortunate news for Toronto, which will open the year without a massive weapon at the back end of the bullpen.

Not having Swanson available will place increased pressure on the likes of Yimi García and Chad Green, both of whom will be tasked with bridging the gap to closer Jeff Hoffman in the ninth inning. It’ll also create additional high-leverage opportunities for Nick Sandlin and Brendon Little, as well as possibly Yariel Rodríguez — who’s being stretched out as a starter in camp but will likely move to a versatile reliever role once the regular season begins.

Swanson’s injury also means the Blue Jays will have two holes in the ‘pen to fill rather than one, creating additional competition for Tommy Nance and Zach Pop — both out of options — along with Nick Robertson, Josh Walker and Easton Lucas — all of whom are on Toronto’s 40-man roster.

They also have a group of non-roster invitees in camp to offer assistance if needed, including Ryan Yarbrough, Richard Lovelady, Mason Fluharty, Braydon Fisher, Kevin Gowdy, Jacob Barnes, Eric Pardinho and Hayden Juenger.