Severino Shines At Futures Game

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; World pitcher Luis Severino throws a pitch in the 4th inning during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees’ top prospects Luis Severino and Peter O’Brien were the team’s representatives at the All-Star Futures Game in Minnesota and one of them found success.

Luis Severino entered the game in the fourth inning, and was lights out. He pumped hard fastballs that reached 96 MPH as well as knee-buckling curveballs.

His biggest test was Texas Rangers’ prospect Joey Gallo, who leads Minor League Baseball with 31 home runs and would go on to win the game’s Most Valuable Player honors. After getting Gallo to foul off two mid-90s fastballs and a changeup, Severino caught him looking at a slow curveball for a strikeout.

The next batter, DJ Peterson, took a Severino curveball to deep left field for a double.

This put the US team in a position to add to their 1-0 lead, but Severino would have none of it, getting the next two batters out to end the inning. Peter O’Brien would take over for DJ Peterson at first base for the World team in the sixth inning.

O’Brien came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning against Houston Astros’ prospect Michael Feliz. O’Brien was overmatched by Feliz’s fastball and struck out swinging.

He came to bat again with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. After missing two mid-90s fastballs, he swung and missed at a slider to end the inning.

Another interesting note: Javier Baez, who could become a Yankees’ target if the Cubs decide to trade one of their many shortstop prospects, gave World team a lead with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, though the lead wouldn’t last.

The US team won 3-2.