Diamondbacks’ Paul Sewald relaunches Strikeouts 4 Kids in Phoenix

PHOENIX — When news broke that Paul Sewald signed back with the Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, one of his first texts he received came from Justin Duran, the SVP of development and communications with Child Crisis Arizona.

Sewald and his wife, Molly, had worked with the local nonprofit that provides children and families with resources during his first stint with the D-backs from 2023-24. Re-upping that partnership was a no-brainer upon his return.

On Wednesday, the relief pitcher announced the return of Sewald’s Strikeouts 4 Kids, an initiative where $500 dollars from each of his strikeouts during the season will benefit Child Crisis Arizona, with the Diamondbacks’ foundation matching.

“I have every resource imaginable to be a parent and it still is extremely difficult,” Sewald said.

“I have Molly, and I have everything that we could possibly need and still feel challenged in that aspect. So to imagine what it’s like to try to raise kids when both parents are working two jobs or there’s only one parent there, and the struggle is so real for Molly and I and we have everything. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be when the cards are stacked against you.”

The Sewalds started the program while he was pitching for the Seattle Mariners in 2022, after the birth of their first daughter. Sewald started working with Eastside Baby Corner — now KidVantage — which provides supplies and services to children in the Pacific Northwest.

The Diamondbacks traded for Sewald in 2023 to be their closer before a run to the World Series, and in 2024, Sewald was the club’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee. 

Child Crisis Arizona works to provide resources to children and families, offering emergency shelter, foster care, adoption, counseling, early education and parenting services. The organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

“Child Crisis Arizona is an organization that works with the most vulnerable families and children in the community, children who are growing up in the foster care system … families who are living up to 200% below the federal poverty line,” Duran said. “When we had the opportunity to talk with Paul and Molly and really identify what we are trying to do in the community and how we’re trying to make that impact, it was a match made.”

Sewald struck out a career-high 104 batters in 2022 and 80 in 2023. He is up to 15 through 14 appearances this season, operating as the closer of the team while relievers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk work their ways back from the injured list.

Since the start of the program, the Sewalds have raised $386,000.

“We did this in ’22. In ’21, I struck out 100 people. We went off of that trying to, we’re just going to guarantee 100 strikeouts,” Sewald said. “I’m going to do my best to get there. We’ll see if I can get there. But the point is we’ll just round to 100 strikeouts for the season. So you can do the math that way.”

Interested fans have the option to join the pledge online.

Related

Can Ketel Marte get luckier, D-backs find old offensive form?Diamondbacks' Brandyn Garcia saw start of season in Triple-A as opportunity to get rightDiamondbacks notebook: Injury updates, Lovullo meets with starting rotationCardinals players take part in bike-riding tradition at Packers joint practiceASU WR Derek Eusebio delivers back-to-school supplies for kids with help from Autism SocietyCardinals’ Jeremiyah Love his ‘true self’ on the football field and giving back