Yankees' Luis Severino Says He's Made 'Steady Progress' After Tommy John Surgery
May 31, 2020
New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino has made positive progress as he rehabs at the team facility in Tampa Bay after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February.
"Things have been progressing well," he said, per George A. King III of the New York Post. "I've been making steady progress—lifting, doing exercises. Since three months ago—I think when I first had my surgery—I feel way better. I'm doing everything I need to do right now so that I can start throwing this summer."
Severino reportedly isn't expected to pitch in regular-season games until June 2021.
The missed time comes after a lost 2019 campaign where shoulder and lat injuries limited him to just three starts.
After signing a four-year, $40 million contract just over a year ago, Severino will miss at least part of the first three seasons of the new deal.
"Of course it's disappointing, but I want to look long-term. I want to be healthy for a long time. So I want to use this year—and last year—to get better, listen to my body," he said. "Of course I was mad at that time [of the injuries] but right now I just want to worry about getting healthy again and having a long career."
The 26-year-old has been impressive when healthy, earning two All-Star selections and a lot of Cy Young votes in 2017 and 2018. He was 33-14 with a 3.18 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in that stretch, helping lead the Yankees to two playoff appearances.
He also pitched well in his limited action last year, totaling a 1.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Adding him to a front of the rotation that also includes Gerrit Cole could help the Yankees contend for a World Series title.
However, New York will still have question marks in the rotation until he returns. James Paxton is apparently healthy after his offseason back surgery, but the injury could still limit him. Domingo German is also suspended 81 games for violating the league's domestic violence policy.
With Paxton, J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka all set to hit free agency next offseason, Severino's recovery will be a major storyline for this team going forward.