New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced Tuesday that starting pitcher Luis Severino needs Tommy John surgery. He is expected to miss the entire 2020 season.
The 26-year-old was shut down last week after experiencing forearm soreness that was later described as a loose body in his elbow — which had been monitored since last season but was not deemed a threat after multiple tests.
This will now be the second-straight season that Severino is dealing with debilitating injuries. He missed all but 20 innings in 2019 due to rotator cuff and lat issues.
It’s a disastrous start to the four-year, $40 million deal he signed with the Yankees prior to 2019, which will now see the first half of the contract include all but three regular-season starts.
Just two years ago, Severino was seen as the undisputed ace of the future for the Yankees following a two-year stretch in which he developed into one of the top pitchers in the American League. Over 63 starts between 2017-2018, he went 33-14 with a 3.18 ERA and 450 strikeouts in 384.2 innings pitched — good for two All-Star selections.
Severino’s loss is just the latest in a Yankees onslaught of injuries that has not stopped since last season.
Following a 2019 season in which 30 players spent time on the injured list, the Yankees already lost southpaw James Paxton for two-to-three months after he underwent back surgery earlier this month.
Domingo German is also slated to return during the summer after serving MLB’s suspension for violating its domestic violence policy
It makes the record-breaking signing of Gerrit Cole that much more important as further pressure to replicate his sterling 2019 season with the Houston Astros will be placed on his shoulder.
He’ll lead a staff heading toward Opening Day that will feature Masahiro Tanaka, JA Happ, and Jordan Montgomery.
In the meantime, Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, and Deivi Garcia have an opportunity to assume the No. 5 role of the rotation for the time being.
