“Moreno’s return is happening a day sooner than anticipated, whereas Sewald’s injury comes as an unexpected development.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated catcher Gabriel Moreno from the injured list on Sunday after he had been sidelined since August 6 due to a left groin strain.
In a corresponding move, reliever Paul Sewald was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to September 12, with neck discomfort. The team’s 40-man roster now sits at 39.
Although the Diamondbacks had been hinting at Moreno’s imminent return, his activation before the team’s trip to Colorado was somewhat unexpected. Moreno is back with a .262/.344/.385 slash line and a 104 OPS+.
Moreno did not start in Sunday’s game. While he was out, Jose Herrera and Adrian Del Castillo covered the catching duties. Despite Castillo’s offensive success, both he and Herrera struggled to control the running game, with opponents stealing 40 bases in 45 attempts during Moreno’s absence.
When asked recently if the team would consider carrying three catchers, manager Torey Lovullo said they hadn’t discussed it, but that’s the plan for now. Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is also expected to be activated soon, which could lead to one of the catchers being optioned to Triple-A Reno.
Sewald’s IL placement came as a surprise, especially since he hadn’t pitched since September 8, and there was no prior indication of an injury. It’s been a tough season for Sewald, particularly from a career standpoint.
A free agent at the end of the season, Sewald missed the first six weeks of the year due to an oblique injury suffered in spring training. After his return, he posted 11 consecutive saves and had a 0.54 ERA going into July.
However, his performance faltered in July, with three blown saves early in the month, leading to a drop in confidence. Despite securing five more saves, a blown save on July 28 ended his stint as the team’s closer.
Although he’s eligible to return on September 28, it’s likely this injury could mark both the end of his season and his time with the Diamondbacks. Sewald’s season stats include a 1-2 record, 3.91 ERA, 16 saves, and four blown saves.
Sewald was a pivotal acquisition for the Diamondbacks at the 2023 trade deadline and played a key role in their journey to the World Series. He was recently named the team’s nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
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