Our closer did what Arizona closers tend to do: evaporated.
2024 overview
- Rating: 3.93
- MLB Stats: 42 G, 39.2 IP, 4.31 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.134 WHIP, 0.2 bWAR
- Date of birth: May 26. 1990 (age 34 season)
- Earnings: $7,350,000
- 2025 status: Free Agent
There is a strong argument to be made that the 2023 trade deadline acquisition of Paul Sewald was the pivotal decision that propelled the Diamondbacks into their storied World Series run. Likewise, there is an argument to be made that his erratic swings in form contributed to the Diamondbacks not putting up a bigger fight in the Fall Classic. While working with different tools in his box, Paul Sewald’s performances on the mound were not unlike those of another former Diamondback closer that long-suffering fans will remember with equal amounts of fondness and trepidation – Fernando Rodney. Both pitchers were considered to be generally reliable back-of-the-bullpen options, except when their stuff decided to take a night (or a week) off. While this could be said for many pitchers, it is especially true for those particular Arizona “closers”. Unlike Rodney though, Sewald is not blessed with power filth. He relies on control and deception, while having solid but average stuff. The 2024 season demonstrated how this can be problematic for a high leverage reliever like Sewald.
After the early 2023 playoff dominance that ended with a rather epic meltdown in ability in the World Series, there were a ton of questions surrounding Sewald and whether or not he could even justify a place on the roster. Given Arizona’s lack of experience and depth in the bullpen, Sewald was mostly a no-brainer to make the cut, but questions still flew about as to where and how he would fit in. Spring Training did precious little to clear up the matter or to alleviate Arizona fans’ fears. Sewald’s already mediocre velocity was down nearly a full mile per hour from the previous season. Furthermore, he came into spring carrying a knock, an injury which extended into the early season. As a result, Sewald did not make his 2024 debut until 7 MAy, for the Diamondbacks 36th game of the season. It was an appearance in a non-save situation in which he struck out one and walked none. Alas, he did allow a hit – one which promptly left the yard to very deep left-center off the bat of Tyler Stephenson (oops). Sports fandom being what it is, Arizona fans were promptly reminded of Sewald’s performance against Corey Seager in the World Series. Thus, after throwing only 15 pitches in the regular season, there were already cries for Sewald to be shipped off to Greenland.
Then a switch was flipped somewhere in the veteran hurler. Two days later he came out in a save situation and needed only 11 pitches to strike out two batters en route to a clean inning and his first save of the season. From May 9 through June 30, Sewald made 17 scoreless appearances and notched 11 saves. Most impressively, he only allowed four hits and three walks in that span for a total of only seven base runners, the type of clean performances that Sewald was not normally known for. After a two-strikeout performance on June 30 against the Athletics, Sewald’s ERA was a miniscule 0.54. Sewald was showing why Mike Hazen traded for him the previous season and was performing as arguably the best closer in baseball.
During this stretch Sewald’s performance was helped by how Torey Lovullo employed his services, working hard to avoid putting Sewald on the mound in consecutive days. During the months of May and June, he only appeared in consecutive days twice. Teh July came about – and the wheels fell off. Dominant Sewald became the Sewald of old, capable of closing, but not without anxiety-inducing performances, allowing the bases to be cluttered before he could record the final out. When the calendar turned to July, Sewald suffered his first blown save of the season. Then his next. Then his next. Three performances in a row resulted in losses where the Diamondbacks were left snatching defeat from the clutches of victory.
This included a performance against the rival Padres in which he gave up three runs on two home runs without recording a single out. Sewald then “righted the ship” somewhat, picking up a couple more saves, including saves on back-to-back nights against the formidable Atlanta Braves. However, this version of Paul Sewald was the version of old, finding success while constantly pitching himself into and out of trouble. This is where Sewald’s decreased velocity really came back to bite him. The decreased velocity allowed players longer to spit on bad pitches and made it much harder to sneak any pitches inside the zone past quality hitters. Sewald’s success became increasingly dependent on having pinpoint location on his pitches.
As command and control are not outstanding traits for Sewald, his results became more and more erratic. Finally, by the end of July, Sewald was removed from the role of closer. Sewald’s last appearance in the role of closer came on July 28th, when he blew his fourth save of the season. Sewald limped his way to the finish of the season throwing in mostly lower leverage late-middle relief innings. Notably he only pitched in back-to-back nights one more time during the season, in the final series against the Dodgers, where he was pitching as a set-up man. eE then went back onto the IL a week later with only one appearance in the span, a poor outing against the Houston Astros during the crunch-time for Arizona’s playoff push.
2025 Outlook
Sewald will turn 35 in the early stages of the 2025 season. Father Time is undefeated. Sewald’s 2024 was a microcosm of his career, including flashes of dominance and periods where his struggles with Old Man Time were on full display with lack of stamina and declining velocity. While Sewals finished the season on the 15-day IL, if he chooses to pitch again in 2025, some team out there will take a low-cost flyer on him. That team will not be Arizona.With all things considered though, there is a strong, non-zero chance that Sewald elects to hang up his cleats and call it a career (as a player at least).