Yankees provide somewhat optimistic Luis Severino injury update

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees tries to pick off Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) during the second inning in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees tries to pick off Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) during the second inning in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Isn’t it crazy that anything that isn’t a season-ending injury is good news for New York Yankees fans? Yup, that’s life right now.

And the team comes bearing an optimistic update on pitcher Luis Severino, who left his rehab start against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Saturday after suffering a very concerning lower-half injury.

It turned out to be a groin issue, but it felt like the end of the world when Sevy couldn’t walk off the mound by himself or put any weight on his right leg. Many were thinking it was another ailment that would shelve him for the remainder of 2021.

Instead, we’re happy with a one-month delay in his rehab, aren’t we, Yankees fans?

Manager Aaron Boone spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays and provided an update on Severino’s status following the MRI results.

Many fans were hoping for some bit of information on Monday, but this is the Yankees we’re talking about. We had to wait a bit longer, but now we know what we’ll be dealing with.

Luis Severino will likely be back with the Yankees in a month or so.

Whew. It doesn’t matter how long we’ll have to wait for starting rotation reinforcements … as long as they arrive in 2021 assuming the offense can keep the team afloat.

Things aren’t looking pretty at the moment with the pitching staff struggling mightily and the offense coming awake for short spurts before going right back to bed, but now that Zack Britton is back and we can expect to see Severino shortly after the All-Star break, life isn’t so bad.

Boone noted that this was merely a freak issue and that it had nothing to do with Severino’s delivery, which apparently was posited by some considering he had missed so much time following Tommy John surgery.

The only frustrating aspect of this Grade 2 groin strain? Sevy will be coming back right around the trade deadline, so it might dissuade the Yankees from striking a deal for a starter. The team was likely hopeful it would get a solid look at the right-hander before making any overarching decisions, but now it seems any rotation needs will be put on the back burner … assuming, of course, Severino returns as a starter and not a reliever, which had been previously discussed.

Nonetheless, we’ll take a little less than a half-season of Sevy, especially if he can find his bearings in September and October, should the Yankees make it that far. Things could be better, but as you know very well, they could also be much worse.

Schedule