Sevy Starts In Somerset For Rehab Assignment

Bridgewater, New Jersey - Yankees right-hander Luis Severino took another positive step forward in his quest to rejoin the Yankees rotation after a successful rehab start with Somerset on Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark. The two-time MLB All-Star is making a comeback from an IL stint that has forced him out of action since March 27 with a right lat strain. After tossing 58 pitches and allowing two earned runs over 3.1 innings against the Reading Fightin Phils, Severino says that he feels healthy and ready to carry a big-league workload.

Sevy Strikeouts!@Yankees RHP Luis Severino's 3Ks from his 3.1 IP in Double-A Somerset this evening. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/XqZ5mK8STd

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 16, 2023

“When you get hit down here, that means you’re ready for the big leagues,” said Severino. “That happens every time when you go to a rehab assignment – you get hit. Yeah, I’m big league ready.”

The 29-year-old Severino needed just 11 pitches to navigate the first inning before the Phils forced him into a labored second. Severino threw 24 pitches while allowing a walk and two hits, including an RBI single to McCarthy Tatum, in the frame. A leadoff single by former Patriot Oliver Dunn, followed by a Tatum double, paved the way for a Cody Robert sacrifice fly in the fourth to cap off Severino’s outing.

In all, the Dominican product allowed two earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Severino threw 39 of his pitches for strikes (six swing-and-miss) and his fastball velocity was reportedly clocked as high as 97 MPH. Severino says he was happy with his outing despite some solid barrel contact and wavering command of his secondary offerings at times.

“This was a very good team,” Severino said of Reading. “They were sitting breaking ball every time then when I tried to sneak a heater it was a line drive 110 MPH up the middle. They are a good team, but the more innings, the more pitches that I get, the better.”

Severino added, “I just wanted to leave the way I came – healthy. I know when I need more pitches my breaking ball will be there. Just getting more pitches in my arm and leaving healthy.”

The organization started the clock on Severino’s rehabilitation assignment last Wednesday after he tossed a 49-pitch outing for Triple-A Scranton. Now the biggest question surrounding his situation is what comes next. Severino is widely reported as a candidate to start for the Bombers on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati, but admits that is still to be decided by the front office in the coming days. Asked if he thought he would be ready to make that start if the Yankees opted to go in that direction, Severino responded with a confident, “yes”.

“I’m really excited and really looking forward to helping my team up there,” said Severino. “The good thing right now is that I am healthy and really close to being back.

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Beat Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 11th season on the beat covering the Patriots for SomersetPatriots.com. Throughout his career, Matt has contributed to MLB.com, YES Network and Pinstriped Prospects. When he’s not at the ballpark, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Kimberly, watching Jets football and collecting sports cards.