Photo Credit: Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Paul Sewald
6’3″ 210 lbs
Bats-R / Throws-R
Drafted 10th round of 2012 (NYM)
University of San Diego

The case of Paul Sewald is a curious one.  With the Mets’ bonus pool resources dwindling, Sewald was the right player at the right time for the Amazins. The college arm was signed, sealed and delivered for just a $1,000 bonus. After all, Sewald was a college senior who had a lack luster career, who was only on the radar due to a successful senior season that saw him produce an 8-3 record w/ 2.83 ERA and a 3:1 K to BB ratio.

This success was accomplished only after three previous unsuccessful years in the San Diego bullpen. As a 22-year old draftee, there was little reason to believe his 89-91 mph fastball would increase as he developed, and with marginal secondary pitches, he was originally seen as an organizational filler, basically an innings eater. Until all of a sudden, he wasn’t.

Since being drafted, all Paul has done is proceed to move up the organization’s ranks with a sub 2.00 ERA at every stop along the way. Along with that superb command that has led to a 6:1 K to BB ratio has come an uncanny ability to miss bats, averaging 10.7 K/9 innings. These statistics are the results of a Bartolo Colon type approach at the mound. He pitches up and down, in and out, on the black at all times. He also had a great breaking ball that he will throw in any count.

It was understandable that this approach would work versus younger less experienced batters at lower levels, but now he has continued his success in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League for the Las Vegas 51s versus a much more refined caliber of opposition.  To start his Triple-A career he has gone 2-1 with six saves, 1.80 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 24 strikeouts compared to only three walks in 20 innings.

His results have garnered notice from more than just Mets brass, as he was selected by team USA for last summer’s Pan-Am games as well. He was also an Eastern League All-Star for the Binghamton Mets in 2015. For his Mets minor league career he has held opponents to a .214 average while giving up only seven home runs in 212.1 innings. He has struck out 251 batters compared to 37 unintentional walks in that time.

Nobody knows if Paul’s success can translate to the MLB level, and traditional thinking says an arsenal of average stuff won’t. What we do know, is that if Sewald continues to succeed at the pace he has, we will all find out soon enough just how well his “stuff” plays out in the big leagues, because he is not just knocking at the door, he is trying his best to kick it down.