Former M’s closer Paul Sewald reaches 100 career saves against the odds

Last year, Paul Sewald doubted his future in MLB. This season, he has locked down the ninth inning and reached a milestone for the Diamondbacks.

BY ALEX WEINER, ARIZONASPORTS.COM

May 28, 2026, 10:40 AM Updated: 10:52 am

Follow on Google News

Paul Sewald Arizona Diamondbacks ex Seattle Mariners...

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 23: Paul Sewald #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates a 5-4 win against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on May 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO — Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Paul Sewald has had to battle his own doubts that he would still be in the big leagues at this stage of his career.

Sewald, the fiery closer on the 2022 playoff-drought busting Seattle Mariners and 2023 World Series-bound Diamondbacks, had seemingly started to fade midway through the 2025 season.

First-place Seattle Mariners better off than other AL rivals

He had lost the closer’s role in Arizona and ended the year on the injured list. Multiple injuries held him to 22 appearances last season, and he did not make the Detroit Tigers’ postseason roster.

Fast forward to Wednesday, and the 36-year-old Sewald earned his 14th save in 15 opportunities for the Diamondbacks in 2026 and the 100th save of his big league career in a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

“Pretty special,” said Sewald, who returns to Seattle for the D-backs’ three-game series with the Mariners beginning Friday.

“Two years ago, I would have felt like that was never going to happen. So just really excited, especially with the last year-and-a-half of being injured most of the year. It just feels good to be able to go out there and pitch healthy. It’s super fun, but I’m just excited to be out there at all. So pretty special, for sure.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arizona Sports (@arizsports)

He recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning on Wednesday at Oracle Park to earn his second save in as many days. In 10 of his 14 saves this season, Sewald has faced the minimum three hitters.

The right-hander — who throws low 90s mph fastballs up in the zone and sweepers down — is tied for fourth in MLB in saves and second in the National League to San Diego Padres fireballer Mason Miller.

It’s quite a juxtaposition looking at the two NL saves leaders averaging a 101.3 mph fastball and a 91.4 mph fastball, respectively.

The Diamondbacks threw a one-year contract at Sewald after spring training had started to give them another option in the bullpen. Arizona had a tough situation on its hands with A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez starting the year on the 60-day injured list after elbow surgeries.

Sewald said in spring training that he was not the closer, that Arizona’s closers are on the IL, but he could be the one to earn the saves in their stead.

In save situations, Sewald has a 2.45 ERA.

“I wasn’t even healthy enough to throw last year,” Sewald said. “So, I mean, a lot of that (doubt) was just, ‘Am I going to get to play again?’ Because I’m getting older and I wasn’t healthy. … I’m just fortunate to be out there pitching really is what it comes down to. I’m just excited that I’m healthy enough to go out there.”

The 2023 Diamondbacks credited a lot of the bullpen success on having defined roles, with Ryan Thompson in the seventh inning, Kevin Ginkel in the eighth and Sewald in the ninth. Having a closer to rely on in the ninth inning has allowed manager Torey Lovullo to handle the bullpen in a way that’s more comfortable, as opposed to the constant fluctuations the team experienced last year.

Will this continue all season? Who knows? It’s baseball, and Puk is working his way back with a mid-June target for his return.

But the Diamondbacks have received saves from three pitchers (Jonathan Loaisiga and Juan Morillo have one each), while they needed eight at this same point last year.

It’s made a big difference, and the D-backs (31-24) will enter June with a winning record and an unlikely comeback story locking down the back end of games.

This article was originally published on ArizonaSports.com.