PHOENIX — Kids in Arizona now have another reason to celebrate Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald striking a batter out when he comes in to get the D-backs a win in the 9th inning.
That's because Sewald will be donating $1,000 for every strikeout this season to support Child Crisis Arizona as part of 'Sewald's Strikeouts 4 Kids,' an organization originally started by Sewald and his wife, Molly, when he played for the Seattle Mariners.
The Sewalds originally started raising money for kids through Paul's strikeouts after having their first daughter, Chloe, in 2021.
Sewald was traded to the Diamondbacks at the 2023 trade deadline, and due to moving cities halfway through the season, the family was not able to bring their charity to the Valley until this season.
"When I got traded, it was just, there was a lot going on last year, we didn’t move into an Arizona organization until this year," Sewald said. "(I) talked to some of our Diamondback community service people that gave us a recommendation and then I found from a couple people that are locals here, had nothing by great things to say about Child Crisis, so we thought, okay that’s a good place to start."
The Sewalds then toured the Child Crisis facility in Phoenix and knew within 10 minutes that was the organization they wanted to support.
"We’re just so grateful to be in a position that we can give back to families," Sewald said. "And I can’t wait to strike out more people. I’m disappointed that my season started a little slow, so I’m not racking up strikeouts, but we’re hoping that we’re going to rack some up throughout the year."
Part of this year's donations will go toward supporting Child Crisis' new Center for Child & Family Wellness, which is being built at the intersection of Country Club Road and Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa. The center will have a garden named after the family, which Sewald said will be important for his daughters to see as they grow up.
"It’s not about us, but (we) just want to make sure that we have a spot where our girls can see this is what we want to do in our lives," Sewald said.
Equally as important for Sewald is being able to help families that are not as fortunate as his.
"There’s a million people that need extra help and they need donations and they need organizations like Child Crisis to help them," Sewald said. "Unfortunately, we can’t help everybody but kids are the center focus of our lives, so I think that’s why it’s most important.
"It kills me to see that some of these families don’t have all the resources that they could possibly have. So, if I could do anything to help them, then I feel like that’s necessary."
And even though Sewald said he is locked in when facing batters, he admits that the kids he is helping sometimes cross his mind.
"I try to strike everybody out, that’s what I try to do every single time," Sewald said. "So, there’s a part of me with two strikes that gets a little disappointed when I don’t get a strikeout, especially when I know it’s going for kids. But, we like to think of it as a win-win-win, so if you donate, you’re not only helping kids, but you’re helping the Diamondbacks and you’re helping me, so at this point, it’s a win-win-win. Whatever anybody can donate is greatly, greatly appreciated."
The Sewalds have already raised more than $7,000 this season and at the end of the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will match every dollar raised to double the total donation.
"It’s just a credit to (D-backs owner) Ken (Kendrick) and (President and CEO) Derrick (Hall) and just the people that we have here," Sewald said. "And that wasn’t even an ask of mine, just simply that was part of the conversation and I am forever grateful that they will do that."
If you want to donate to Sewald's Strikeouts 4 Kids, go to dbacks.com/ss4k.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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