Paul Sewald, following a stint with the Cleveland Guardians, has emerged as an integral part of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ bullpen. After the Guardians signed Sewald to a $7 million contract, with the hope he would become a solid set-up option, he only pitched 15 1/3 largely ineffective innings before being traded at the deadline.
Sewald’s Turnaround in Arizona
Sewald resurfaced in the offseason with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He seems to have become the team’s full-time closer. After starting the season by getting one out against the Dodgers on Opening Day, Sewald secured saves in back-to-back games during the Diamondbacks’ sweep of the Detroit Tigers earlier this week.
His first save occurred on Monday. He tossed a perfect ninth inning in a 9-6 Arizona win that included a game-ending strikeout of Spencer Torkelson. He took the mound again a day later and struck out the side in a 7-5 Arizona win.
Velocity Boost Fuels Success
A significant change for Sewald this season compared to his time with the Guardians is his fastball velocity. It has topped out at 92.6 miles per hour after averaging just 90.2 mph last year. He spent time at Driveline Baseball to maximise his arsenal.
Sewald’s early-season success may seem familiar to Arizona baseball fans. His initial period with the D-backs began after being acquired from the Mariners at the 2023 trade deadline, where he recorded 13 saves in the regular season. He also served as the closer in their march to the World Series.
Recalling His Time with the Guardians
He recorded 16 saves in 2024, which led to him signing his aforementioned contract with the Guardians. Sewald started his tenure in Cleveland with a save on Opening Day. He went on the injured list at the end of April due to right shoulder inflammation.
After returning to make a couple of appearances in July, he once again went on the shelf, which led to the Guardians trading him to the Tigers for cash considerations. He made four appearances for the Tigers and was left off their postseason roster.
While Arizona still doesn’t seem to have a true “closer” thanks to manager Torey Lovullo preference to use a committee in the ninth inning, it still seems like Sewald should get a chance to pitch in plenty of high-leverage opportunities in 2026.