Sewald a community pillar for D-backs
Steve Gilbert
@SteveGilbertMLBThis story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert¡¯s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
This hasn't been the easiest of seasons on the field for D-backs right-hander Paul Sewald, as injuries and struggles have taken a toll on him. However, the 34-year-old has not let that affect the tremendous work that he and his wife, Molly, do off the field with various charities, which is why Sewald is the D-backs' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball's most prestigious individual honor.
The Roberto Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One via MLBTogether.com/clementeaward. The site, which features a bio of each nominee in English and Spanish, allows fans to vote through the end of the regular season.
When he came over from the Mariners at the Trade Deadline in 2023, Sewald teamed up with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Child Crisis Arizona to continue Sewald's Strikeouts 4 Kids program.
Created in 2022 by the Sewalds, the goal was to provide children a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families.
In the inaugural year of the program, the Sewalds donated $20,000 and grossed $73,900 in donations. Last year, the program raised $97,300 with a $40,000 contribution from the Sewalds.
Child Crisis Arizona provides emergency shelter, foster care, counseling and more to support the community¡¯s most vulnerable children, youth, and families.
"I work hard to be the best baseball player that I possibly can be," Sewald said. "But at the end of the day, being a good person and a good human is the most important thing that you can do. And I don't think we've ever had somebody be more of a good person and a good humanitarian than Roberto Clemente, who literally risked his life to help others.
"Just to be even nominated -- mentioned in the same light as him in this sort of capacity -- is an incredible honor. I am truly grateful to be nominated for it."
The Sewalds committed $80,000 personally to Child Crisis Arizona this year, and he has set up a program to raise matching donations from fans who pledge a donation for each of his strikeouts, with the goal to gross more than $100,000.
It isn't just money that the Sewalds are contributing, but they have visited Child Crisis Arizona, hosted them at games and have spearheaded supply drives.
The more they learned about Child Crisis Arizona through the Diamondbacks Foundation, the more it became clear that it would be the focus of their efforts here in Arizona.
"We thought it was just families that were very vulnerable due to abuse, and that's just the bare minimum of what they do," Sewald said of Child Crisis Arizona. "They give education to kids that really don't have that opportunity. Child care is so expensive. Now, sometimes parents are more willing to just not have a job so they wouldn't have to pay for the childcare. It's a safety net for all these kids that just need a safe place."
Sewald has also supported community initiatives for veteran and military affairs, including donating more than $20,000 to the Rick Hopcraft Memorial Scholarship Fund for Military Veterans. He has also partnered with the Players Alliance to distribute baseball gear to communities in need in Las Vegas as well as organizing a back-to-school drive called "Pencils & Pants" for KidVantage in Seattle.
Sewald has also generously donated to the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope, which was started in honor of Arizona GM Mike Hazen's late wife, as well as many other charities.
Sewald is currently on the 15-day IL with a neck issue, but he's still hopeful he can return to try and help the D-backs make another postseason run like they did last year thanks in large part to his contributions at the back end of games.
"I have not had the personal success on the field that I would like to this year," Sewald said. "I think every fan understands that, but this [nomination] is the best thing that's happened to me this year, and hopefully we get to have a lot of team success later this year. And you know, if I can be a part of the team success with a little personal on the field help, that's even better."