NEW YORK — A Yankees trainer broke the news to pitcher Luis Severino Monday that he would be placed on the 60-day disabled list.
“I wasn’t happy,” Severino told reporters yesterday, standing in front of his locker in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
Severino warmed up from 60 feet Monday to start his throwing program, and while manager Aaron Boone said it went “good,” it’s clear the right-hander isn’t in the Yankees’ plans any time soon.
With a latissimus dorsi strain, Severino was transferred to the 60-day disabled list before Monday’s game against the Mariners at the stadium, meaning he won’t be eligible to return to the list until mid-September.
Asked if he expected Severino to rejoin the rotation upon his return, Boone said, “We’ll see. It’s early in the process, but I hope so.”
The Yankees were already monitoring Severino’s workload, as he spent much of the previous three seasons on the disabled list. Now he will end up missing most of the second half, since the Yankees made the move the same day they traded right-hander Frankie Montas from the A’s.
Although Severino realistically would not have been able to pitch in the majors until September, the move came as a surprise.
Severino left his most recent start with a wing injury on July 13 and could rejoin the Yankees for the postseason.
– Power
This year, Severino maintained an average fastball of 96.8 miles per hour, according to Statcast data from Baseball Savant. He also improved the effectiveness of his changeup and slider, drawing the attention of Pedro Martinez.
