D-backs’ Paul Sewald nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald is one of the 30 nominees for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award.

Each year, the Roberto Clemente Award recognizes players across Major League Baseball for their philanthropy and positive impacts within their communities.

Sewald and his wife, Molly, partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Child Crisis Arizona to raise money for children across Arizona and provide them with a safe environment.

The pitcher and his wife pledged to donate $1,000 to Child Crisis Arizona for every strikeout this season and have personally contributed $80,000 so far. The Diamondbacks Foundation agreed to match the Sewald family’s donations.

“I am honored to be named the Diamondbacks nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. A man who put his own safety at risk to help those in crisis and a true humanitarian,” Sewald tweeted to his X account.

He began Sewald’s Strikeouts 4 Kids in 2022 while playing for the Seattle Mariners and continued the initiative after his trade to Arizona.

Former D-backs pitcher Curt Schilling won the award in 2001 for his charitable donations toward combating ALS. No D-backs player has won the award since Schilling.

Fans can vote for which player they want to see win this year’s award. Voting opened on Monday and will stay open until the end of the regular season on Sept. 29.