Yankees plan on easing Luis Severino into game action slowly

According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone the team plans on taking things slowly with Luis Severino this spring. The two-time All-Star is coming off an injury-plagued campaign in 2019 where he was limited to only three starts, all coming in September.

Last spring on February 14th Severino signed a well-deserved extension with the Yankees for four years and $40M. Unfortunately, less than three weeks later he was scratched from making his first exhibition start due to rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder. Then on April 9th, he was diagnosed with a lat strain he suffered while rehabbing.

The injuries ended up keeping Sevy out of action until September 17th when he finally made his season debut. He went on to make two more starts in the regular season and than another two in October. Overall he only pitched a total of 20.1 innings in 2019.

This season expectations are very high for Sevy to have a huge bounce-back year, but the Yankees still plan on easing him back into game action at a slower pace than the rest of the starting staff. George King of the New York Post reported that Sevy still hasn’t thrown live batting practice, but Boone says he could very soon.

“He will. I’m not exactly sure when his first [live BP] will be, but it’s on the horizon,’’ Boone said. “We’re playing him a little bit slower, but he’s not much behind everyone else.’’

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You can’t fault the Yanks for taking this approach with Sevy, considering how he got injured during spring training a year ago. The exhibition schedule hasn’t even started yet so he still has plenty of time to get back into the usual progression a starting pitcher goes through to prepare for the season. The most important thing for him and the Yankees is to make sure that he’s healthy and ready to go when the team heads back north.

Last year the Yankees somehow managed to win 103 games despite Sevy missing the first five and a half months of the season. To be that dominant without their ace from the previous two seasons was quite an accomplishment, but imagine how many games they can win this year with Sevy back healthy and the addition of the new staff ace Gerrit Cole.

We know what to expect from Cole, but if Sevy can return to his All-Star form the Yankees have the makings of the top duo of any rotation in baseball. The rest of the rotation behind them is extremely solid as well especially once James Paxton returns from back surgery in May or June.

In 2019 the Yankees rotation was somewhat of a weakness but this year it has a chance to be an overwhelming strength. The key, however, is Severino. He’s the X-Factor of the group because when he’s at his best he’s truly one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.