Arizona Diamondbacks to Start Season Without Star Closer, Could Miss Six Weeks
The defending National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt a tough hand on Monday as it was learned that star closer Paul Sewald will begin the year on the injured list. He could miss up to six weeks with an oblique strain.
The defending National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt a tough hand on Monday as star closer Paul Sewald was diagnosed with an oblique strain that will put him on the injured list at the start of the season.
Per Alex Weiner of AZ Sports on "X:"
Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald is going to start the season on the IL with a Grade 2 oblique strain.
No timetable from Torey Lovullo.
Though no official timetable was given, typically Grade-2 strains can take about six weeks to heal. If that's the case, we won't see Sewald before May, at least.
The 33-year-old Sewald was acquired last year near the trade deadline in a deal with the Seattle Mariners and helped Arizona get to the World Series for the first time since 2001. Between Arizona and Seattle, he was 3-2 in 2023 with a 3.12 ERA. He saved 34 games out of 65 appearances and struck out 80 batters in 60.2 innings.
A seven-year veteran, Sewald has pitched for the New York Mets, Mariners and D'Backs. Lifetime, he's 19-23 with a 4.06 ERA, but he has saved 20 games or more in each of the last two seasons as he's come into his own.
In his absence, the Diamondbacks could use the hard-throwing Kevin Ginkel in the closers role. Sewald's absence is unfortunately not the only injury that Arizona is dealing with at the beginning of the season: Highly-prized free agent Eduardo Rodriguez is also set to miss time at the beginning of the year. He has a lat issue.
The Diamondbacks open the season Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.
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