Yankees MiLB Report: Threshers Can’t Hit Severino

Yankees’ top pitching prospect Luis Severino-Mandatory Credit: MiLB.com

So much for an adjustment period. Luis Severino, one of the New York Yankees’ top pitching prospects, hurled six no-hit innings in his second start since being promoted from the Charleston RiverDogs to the Tampa Yankees. The young fireballer is making a strong case that he may be major league-ready.

Severino signed with the Yankees at the age of 18 in 2012. He went 4-2 with an eye-popping 1.68 ERA over 14 starts in the Dominican League in his rookie debut. Since then, he has climbed up throughout the Yankees’ minor league system, never accruing a losing record. He has become more of a strikeout artist, and has lowered his walk ratio at nearly every stop. He is now the unquestioned top right-handed pitching prospect on the Yankees’ farm.

Severino was promoted from Charleston to Tampa last week. In his first start on June 20th, Severino got roughed up a bit, but still showed his electric stuff. He did allow three runs over 4.2 innings pitched in the loss, however, he struck out 8 out of the 20 Lakeland Tigers he faced. Wednesday night against the Clearwater Threshers at Brighthouse Field, Severino made Yankees’ fans excited for the future. He hurled six no-hit innings, striking out six and walking just one. More than half of his pitches thrown were for strikes, and he induced eight ground balls as opposed to one fly out. That is the kind of pitching one needs to be successful in the tiny confines of Yankee Stadium.

Severino currently has a combined 4-3 record over 16 starts with a 2.76 ERA and an 84 K/ 17 BB ratio over 78.1 innings pitched. The Yankees are known for not rushing their pitchers, and the talented righty is merely 20-years-old. Once the world gets a glimpse of what Severino has to offer in the 2014 Futures Game in Minnesota during All Star week, the Yankees may have no choice but to get Severino ready for a September call-up. Until then, Yankees’ fans can sit back and enjoy an artist at work.