Yankees News: Luis Severino Undergoes Tommy John Surgery; Has Bone Chip Removed

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday in New York City that also saw Dr. David Altchek remove a bone chip in his throwing elbow, the club announced.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman relayed Tuesday that Severino needed Tommy John:

Severino then released a statement, confirming that he will miss all of 2020:

This comes after the 26-year-old missed the Yankees' first 151 games in 2019 with a shoulder injury and lat strain. He returned on Sept. 17 and made three regular-season starts, going 1-1 before pitching twice in the postseason.

The Yankees' run ended in the American League Championship Series with a loss to the Houston Astros in six games, but Severino did his part in giving up two runs over 8.1 innings and striking out 10.

Severino was considered New York's ace after stellar 2017 and '18 All-Star campaigns. He went 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 230 strikeouts across 31 starts in 2017. That was followed by a 19-8 record, 3.39 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 220 strikeouts across 32 starts in 2018.

Severino signed a four-year, $40 million extension last February.

Gerrit Cole's nine-year, $324 million contract is looking more and more like a smart investment by the Yankees in free agency. The 29-year-old right-hander will be New York's unquestioned ace in 2020 after leading the American League with a 2.50 ERA and MLB with 326 strikeouts as an Astro last year. 

Behind Cole, the top of the Yankees rotation will presumably round out with returning starters Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ as James Paxton recovers from back surgery. Paxton is expected to miss the first three or four months of the season, per ESPN.

The Yankees' regular season will open on March 26 in Baltimore.