Sewald got the start in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, tossing two shutout innings and walking one batter.
Victor Martinez was the only one of Detroit's big bats to make the trip to St. Lucie, but this was still a nice beginning to the spring for Sewald. The 10th round pick in 2012 has done nothing but produce as a minor league closer since turning pro, including a 3.29 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 80:21 K:BB in 65.2 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas in 2016, but his lack of a big fastball (he tops out at 92 mph) have created enough doubts about his big league future that he went unclaimed in the Rule 5 draft this offseason after not being added to the Mets' 40-man roster. If he continues doing well this spring, and back in the PCL this season, he could change that perception, however.