New York Yankees Editorial: Luis Severino’s Three Goals For 2015

New York Yankees top pitching prospect Luis Severino has set three goals for the remainder of the 2015 season:

"Reach the big leagues, command all my pitchers, and keep pounding the strike zone."

Severino has done well at commanding his pitches and pounding the strike zone in his brief minor league career, leading many to believe that it is time for the Yankees to call up the 21-year-old right hander.

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Since his promotion to Triple-A, Severino has gone 4-0 with a miniscule 1.99 ERA in eight starts.  Through a translator, Severino stated that as he rises through the Yankees farm system, so too does his comfort level:

"I feel comfortable.  Everyone is professional.  There are a lot of good ballplayers.  They don’t mess up plays here, so I feel very comfortable pitching."

Severino’s Triple-A pitching coach, former major league pitcher Scott Aldred, has been impressed by Severino’s willingness to attack:

"It can be tough on some guys learning how to pitch different ways, but he’s done a good job of straightforward attack, so he’s been good.  I’ve liked the fact that he goes right after hitters.  He throws a lot of strikes with three pitches, and he’s been doing great since he’s been here."

Severino, who boasts a fastball that reaches 97 miles-per-hour, and an above average changeup and slider, struggled Tuesday in his last start for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, lasting just four innings, while throwing 85 pitches.  On a positive note, he only allowed one earned run and four hits while striking out four, though he did walk two.  His short outing resulted in a no-decision.

Aldred agreed with Severino that his secondary pitches still need work, while adding that his mechanics could improve as well, but still believes that Severino is ready for his final promotion:

"Slider and changeup, just maintaining his arm slot with both of them.  Just consistency in his delivery overall.  You certainly like to see everybody get better, but he would be competitive up there, I believe.  I think he can be a middle of the rotation starter, maybe higher.  Just depends on how well his command comes along."

Severino, who grew up a Yankees fan in Sabana de la Mar of the Domincan Republic idolizing the likes of Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera, isn’t sure how he’ll react to pitching for the team, but won’t let his ranking in the Yankees farm system create a lack of a desire to improve:

"Ever since I was little, I’ve really liked the Yankees.  For me, it feels the same as when I started.  It doesn’t have anything to do with being the number one prospect, the number 100 prospect, or number 25.  For me, it’s the same, keep working hard in order to continue advancing."

If Severino continues to pitch the way that he has, it is likely he will achieve all of his 2015 goals before the season concludes.

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