Detroit Tigers reliever Paul Sewald has been sidelined for most of the season with consecutive right shoulder strains, but he expects to return.
Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Paul Sewald has been sidelined for most of the season with consecutive right shoulder strains, but he just initiated a return-to-play throwing progression.
He also reported to Comerica Park.
Both events happened Monday, Aug. 4, exactly four days after the Tigers acquired Sewald in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians before the Thursday, July 31, trade deadline.
"We do things day-by-day in rehab," Sewald said Tuesday, Aug. 5. "I felt great today after my first day of catch yesterday. I'll let you know tomorrow how it feels after my first day of rehab."
Sewald expects to pitch for the Tigers in 2025.
And the Tigers expect Sewald to be healthy by early September and active by mid-September, but Sewald doesn't know when he's going to be ready.
"I'm going to pitch this year," said Sewald, a nine-year MLB veteran. "When is the question of day-by-day, honestly. I'm going to do everything I can to be as healthy as I can as quickly as I can, but timelines are crazy in rehab, so we just try not to give them."
Sewald has been limited to 18 games in the 2025 season. He has a 4.70 ERA with four walks and 18 strikeouts across 15⅓ innings. To acquire Sewald, the Tigers gave up a player to be named later or cash considerations.
When healthy, the 35-year-old has been effective in limiting walks, generating whiffs and producing strikeouts. His fastball velocity has dipped to 90.3 mph, but his sweeper remains a swing-and-miss weapon.
"I've only been traded once, and we went to the World Series," Sewald said, referencing a trade that sent him from the Seattle Mariners to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. "That's my standard around here, so no pressure. I'm excited for this team."
Sewald is capable of securing a high-leverage role in the Tigers' bullpen.
But he isn't picky about his role.
"When they tell me to pitch, I go out there and pitch as long as I can until A.J. (Hinch, manager) shakes my hand," Sewald said. "As a reliever, your role is very defined. I'll pitch when they tell me to pitch, and I'll do everything I can to be available as much as I possibly can."
Sewald has been on the injured list for almost the entire season with a right shoulder strain, from April 29 to July 5, then again since July 15, retroactive to July 12.
After the trade, the Tigers transferred Sewald to the 60-day injured list, so he isn't eligible to pitch in the big leagues again until Sept. 10, at the earliest.
"It's a different injury," said Sewald, who has made four trips to the injured list in the past two seasons. "Was it caused because of the first one? It's not black and white. Maybe it had something to do with the last one. Maybe it's totally different. Doctors don't know. Trainers don't know. It's just one of those things where maybe I needed one extra week."
Sewald is bracing for some workload restrictions when he returns from the injured list in mid-September, which will be necessary to protect him from suffering another injury.
By October, he doesn't want there to be any limitations.
He wants to be free in the postseason.
"We're going to try to get rid of them as quickly as we can," Sewald said. "In October, there are no limitations. I'm going to do everything I can to be a regular reliever when it gets to October."
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Reese Olson, Parker Meadows injury updates
Right-hander Reese Olson (right shoulder strain) has already been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, but the 26-year-old hopes to return to the Tigers for the postseason in October, as long as the Tigers make a deep run.
On Tuesday, Olson received a PRP injection (a treatment made from a patient's own blood cells to accelerate healing) for his right shoulder injury.
Center fielder Parker Meadows (right quad strain) initiated a return-to-play running progression. The 25-year-old has been hitting and throwing, but completing a series of running drills over multiple days will open the door to a rehab assignment.
Gleyber Torres scratched
The Tigers scratched second baseman Gleyber Torres from Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins with left forearm tightness. To replace him, Zach McKinstry shifted from shortstop to second base, while Javier Báez entered the lineup at shortstop.
Torres throws with his right arm.
It's unclear what caused the left forearm tightness.
Torres, 28, is hitting .273 with 13 home runs, 55 walks and 59 strikeouts in 101 games. He has launched four homers in his past eight games, along with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Paul Sewald reports to Detroit Tigers, checks in about shoulder injury
Category: Baseball
