TEMPE — Paul Sewald pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first time since September 2024 in Saturday’s 8-5 spring-training win over the Los Angeles Angels, and a velocity increase after he worked with Driveline this offseason was the main takeaway from his performance.
Sewald allowed one run on one hit with a strikeout, but his fastball velocity was 92 mph on average, up from 90.4 mph last year. It was more closely on par with his previous Diamondbacks tenure — he spent last year with the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers.
“I feel good. I feel healthy. I feel like it should be there,” Sewald said. “That’s a great sign that I don’t have to feel like I have to overthrow to get to a certain velocity. I don’t have to take something off to locate. But if I could throw that at the top, that’s going to be just fine.”
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Velocity cannot be the only focus of Sewald’s spring, he said, but he was encouraged knowing he has time to make adjustments for better command.
Sewald dealt with shoulder injuries last season that held him to 22 appearances. There were times when he would throw the ball as hard as he could, turn around and feel disappointed by the reading.
This offseason, Sewald and his family moved to the Valley, and he started working out at the renowned Driveline training facility to find his velocity again.
“Most of the guys come in there saying, ‘Hey, I throw 94, 95, I need to throw 97,'” Sewald said. “Mine was like, ‘I used to throw 92, 93. Do you think I can get back to 92, 93?’ So I think just being more efficient with what I have is the key, and I’ve been feeling good.
“I just feel like it was important for me to have a coach watching every rep at this point in my career.”
Sewald is among Arizona’s candidates to earn back-end roles, including closer. After signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal, he said he would pitch in whatever role he was told.
Jonathan Loaisiga is another option for the bullpen after coming over on a minor-league deal. He spent the past eight seasons with the New York Yankees and made his Diamondbacks debut on Saturday.
Loaisiga threw one inning with a run allowed on two hits, one walk and a strikeout. He averaged 97 mph with the sinker, showing the ability to deliver high velocity with a curveball and changeup to mix up speeds.
“(Gerardo) Carrillo, Loaisiga, that’s upper 90s stuff that’s very crisp around the zone,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Secondary stuff seemed like it was just as productive. I love what I saw, especially from Loaisiga. It’s his first outing, it came out hot.”
Diamondbacks’ Brandyn Garcia exits with illness
Diamondbacks reliever Brandyn Garcia left Saturday’s game with an illness, according to the club.
Garcia hit two batters with pitches and walked another before exiting with the athletic trainer.
It’s a worrisome moment whenever anyone walks to the clubhouse with the trainer, but Lovullo assured there was nothing wrong with Garcia’s arm, there was just no point to push him further.
Lovullo made sure to praise minor-league pitcher Casey Anderson, who entered with the bases loaded and nobody out and escaped with no runs.
What’s the plan for the World Baseball Classic players?
Third baseman Nolan Arenado got his final two at-bats for the Diamondbacks on Saturday before joining up with Team Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic. Outfielder Alek Thomas will play on Sunday and then join Team Mexico, which is meeting in the Valley before taking on the Diamondbacks in an exhibition on Tuesday. Michael Soroka will pitch for Arizona on Sunday ahead of playing for Team Canada in the WBC. Outfield prospect Druw Jones got two at-bats in on Saturday and will go play for Team Netherlands, managed by his father, Andruw Jones.Several players have already departed, including Dominicans Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Carlos Santana.
The WBC begins on Thursday, with pool play running until March 11.
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