The injury-related hits keep coming for the New York Yankees, as they found out on Monday night that ace Gerrit Cole, scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles, tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss between two and three turns in the rotation depending on his recovery and other things. Third baseman Gio Urshela was also placed on the 10-day injured list.
Are there ever good news on the injury front for the Yankees? Well, yes, there are. Starting pitcher Luis Severino will start a rehab assignment today as he works his way back from a groin injury that put a halt on his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Severino hasn’t pitched for the Yankees since 2019, when he had a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, adding 17 strikeouts. A litany of physical issues have robbed him most of the last three seasons, ending with the Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2020 and the groin strain that delayed his return in 2021.
The Yankees are planning to give Severino around 50 pitches tonight
Now, however, he is ready to restart his journey back to the Yankees, as he will take the ball tonight for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. Over the weekend, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Severino and fellow righty Corey Kluber are on track to return in the Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 range.
“I think that’s probably reasonable, especially with Sevy,†Boone said, per NJ Advance Media.
The Yankees are expected to give Severino “probably three innings, 45-to-50 pitches†on Tuesday night with Somerset.
The plan is for him to complete three or four rehab starts with the Yankees’ minor league affiliates and stretch to five or six innings before he is called up in late August – early September for the stretch run.
The Yankees, more than ever, need Severino to contribute at some point in the second half if they want to make a push for the playoffs.
Can Luis Severino return in time to make a significant contribution to the 2021 Yankees?