Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced on Monday that closer Paul Sewald will start the 2024 season on the injury list due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Lovullo stated that Sewald’s return to the field may take weeks rather than days.
The D-backs will start the season without their closer pic.twitter.com/6nnP1ST3cK
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 25, 2024
The team is uncertain about who will fill in as the closer in Sewald’s absence. Sewald played a crucial role for the Diamondbacks during their 2023 postseason run, closing out six games and allowing only three hits and no runs. However, he struggled in the World Series, giving up six hits and six runs in two appearances.
The Diamondbacks re-signed Sewald to a one-year contract worth $7.35 million in January, and he is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. This injury news comes shortly after starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was sidelined with a lat strain.
#Dbacks closer Paul Sewald has a left oblique strain and will miss some time. Out weeks not days. @12SportsAZ
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 25, 2024
Lovullo stated that Rodriguez’s recovery time is uncertain. The Diamondbacks’ Opening Day game against the Colorado Rockies is scheduled for Thursday.
In addition to the Diamondbacks, Phoenix is home to four other major professional sports teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Arizona Coyotes. The city hosts various major sporting events throughout the year, such as the Fiesta Bowl and Cactus League Spring Training.
Lovullo explained that Sewald experienced discomfort after his last outing. Sewald’s absence adds to the Diamondbacks’ challenges, as starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is also sidelined with a lat strain.
Sewald, acquired by the Diamondbacks last summer, had an impressive performance during Arizona’s run to the World Series, contributing eight scoreless innings and six saves. Despite struggling during the Fall Classic, Sewald remains a valuable asset to the team.
In anticipation of his absence, Lovullo is considering various options for the closer role, including Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson, who have demonstrated their capabilities in previous seasons.
Torey Lovullo doesn’t know who will close yet. Kevin Ginkel seems like the logical choice… but Lovullo likely won’t pick a intern closer by #OpeningDay.
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 25, 2024
The announcement also solidifies the team’s pitching staff, with 13 healthy arms available for 13 spots. However, decisions regarding position players still need to be made. Despite the setbacks, Lovullo expressed confidence in the team’s bullpen, highlighting the experience and success of the pitchers.
The Diamondbacks will commence the regular season without Sewald and Rodriguez. The absence of these key pitchers poses a challenge for the team, but Lovullo aims to let the situation evolve naturally and believes the front office shares the same perspective.
Paul Sewald, who was acquired from the Mariners last season, played a crucial role in stabilizing the Arizona Diamondbacks’ bullpen. Alongside Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson, Sewald formed a reliable late-inning trio that helped the team reach the World Series.
In 2023, Sewald accumulated a 3.12 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings between the Mariners and D-backs. Over the past three seasons, he has maintained a 2.95 ERA with 256 strikeouts in just 189 1/3 innings.
Unfortunately, Sewald will be sidelined for several weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. In his absence, the D-backs’ bullpen will rely on Ginkel and Thompson for high-leverage situations, while others like Miguel Castro, Joe Mantiply, Scott McGough, Kyle Nelson, Luis Frías, Bryce Jarvis, Justin Martinez, and Andrew Saalfrank will contribute to different roles.
Fans reacted as follows:
Brutal injuries to Dbacks staff already…
— Ben (@HowUBenFeller) March 25, 2024
Sounds like he is scarred of Seager
— Logan Bard (@loganbard42) March 25, 2024
Wow… not looking good for the snakes https://t.co/fEx9SXQV4U
— Dylan Wilkerson (@wilkersonadylan) March 25, 2024
Wonder if baseball will find a way to stop this hard to get excited when your team is just getting hurt left and right what's the injury count at and it's not even April 😂
— Rays Fan42 (@Fan42Rays) March 25, 2024
mlb record, first garde 2 left oblique strain in league history
— HurRunningBack (@HurRunningBack) March 25, 2024
To be honest if I found out that u might have to throw to Barnhart I would fake a injury
— Neil 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 (@zao_rookie) March 25, 2024
It’s ok. They got GINKEL
— James Finch (@J_Finchy1) March 25, 2024
Why are there so many injured players this year before the season has even started?
— Teddy Paddington (@earthist5) March 25, 2024
Torey Lovullo doesn’t know who will close yet. Kevin Ginkel seems like the logical choice… but Lovullo likely won’t pick a intern closer by #OpeningDay.
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 25, 2024
Respectfully, is any oblique a matter of days?
— MagicOriole (@MagicOriole) March 25, 2024
Because closer by committee worked so well in the past.
— ChrisDaPiss666 (@drgonzo71881) March 25, 2024
It’s time for Paul Sewald to hang up the cleats
— yankees fan (masochist) (@cashmoney69420) March 25, 2024
Really rough, someone in my league has him and edwin diaz 🤮🤮 thats it
— John Lester (@SuthernCroSss) March 26, 2024
