Swanson is one of only two active MLB players born in North Dakota, with the other being pitcher Matt Strahm of the Philadelphia Phillies.

[3] The Texas Rangers selected Swanson in the eighth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.

[citation needed] On August 1, 2016, Swanson was traded with Dillon Tate and Nick Green to the New York Yankees for Carlos Beltrán.

[9] On November 19, 2018, the Yankees traded Swanson, Justus Sheffield, and Dom Thompson-Williams to the Seattle Mariners for James Paxton.

[12] On November 16, 2022, the Mariners traded Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko to the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

Erik's father, Mark, played college football for the North Dakota State Bison.

[17] On February 25, 2024, his son, Toby, was struck by a car in Dunedin, Florida, and airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.