DETROIT -- Veteran reliever Paul Sewald put on his Detroit Tigers home whites and stepped onto a mound on Saturday for the first time since joining the team last month.
It was only a bullpen of about 20 pitches, but it represented the first step in his push to join the Tigers' bullpen in September and, potentially, the playoffs.
Sewald said he felt great, though he will be closely monitoring how he feels on Sunday and Monday.
"It's always about how you bounce back from these things," he said. "My adrenaline obviously carried me through my first pen, and I was really excited. It's about how you respond tomorrow and the next day, so then we can go at it again. Every few days I'll try to get back out there. But I felt really good, really excited with how it went. No issues, but we'll take it day by day from here."
Sewald, 35, was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for cash considerations or a player to be named later. He has been on the injured list with a right shoulder strain and won't be eligible to return until Sept. 10.
He signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Cleveland in January but has spent much of the season sidelined. After suffering a shoulder strain early in the year, he returned to pitch in 18 games before sustaining a new strain in July.
Sewald threw only fastballs in Saturday's bullpen session. With a two-pitch arsenal, he said he isn't worried about being able to work in the slider later.
He is one of several injured pitchers -- along with Alex Cobb, Jose Urquidy and Reese Olson -- who could return in the final weeks of the regular season and contribute in October. Competition for postseason roster spots could be fierce, with other potential arms such as Brant Hurter, Alex Lange, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Keider Montero and Chase Lee currently pitching in Toledo.
The competition for postseason roles could be fierce. In addition to the injured pitchers, other potential contributors like Brant Hurter, Alex Lange, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Keider Montero and Chase Lee are currently pitching in Toledo.
The Tigers' bullpen has held up well since the trade deadline, thanks in large part to the success of the starting rotation and top relievers Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan.
"I'm very excited to join them at some point," Sewald said. "I know it seems weird to get traded and then not play for a while, but I'm excited to be out there. They've dominated, and it makes me feel good that the team's not needing me right now. It's not one of those situations where the bullpen is falling apart and you really want to get out there. It just feels like I can hopefully join a really good bullpen whenever I'm healthy."