Luis Severino wasn’t shy about sharing his unhappiness about having to throw live batting practice, but the Yankees’ starter is inching toward a return.
Severino called the live BP “unnecessary” and that he wanted to get into a game for Low-A Tampa, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. That didn’t appear to be the end of the disagreements between Severino and manager Aaron Boone, who said that the righty would pitch a rehab game on Wednesday in Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre.
The pitcher, however, said that he’d rather throw on Thursday to avoid having to spend the night in Pennsylvania.
“I think it was unnecessary not throw in low-A, but I do whatever they tell me to do,” Severino told reporters on Sunday in Tampa. “I just want to go there and try to build my pitch count to where I feel comfortable, and I can come back sooner.”
Severino has been one of the Yankees’ many injured pitchers this season, going on the injured list at the end of spring training. He had been placed on the 15-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27.
He did not fair well in the exhibition season giving up 15 runs in 15 innings with a 9.00 ERA.
“He wants to pitch. He wants to get back here. He wants to get in the rotation,” Boone said when asked about Severino’s comment. “He feels good. I just look at it as a competitor wanting to go.”
The Yankees skipper smirked when it was mentioned that Severino would prefer to pitch Thursday instead of the early game on Wednesday. Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre plays at 11:05 on Wednesday and then a night game the following day.
Boone said he wasn’t in charge of the rehab assignments.
The Yankees, who have barely been treading water of late, would love to get Severino back on the mound sooner than later as they try to dig themselves out of the hole they find themselves in. However, injuries have long been an issue for Severino, who has made just 26 starts since 2018.
Severino went 7-3 in 19 starts in 2022 when he put up a 3.18 ERA and struck out 112 batters in 102.0 innings.
