The New York Yankees got brutal news Tuesday regarding one of the key pitchers on their staff.
Luis Severino, who has not been able to work out this spring due to pain in his throwing arm, needs Tommy John surgery, according to Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
For now, the surgery is only a recommendation, but it certainly seems inevitable. It comes after Severino missed almost all of the 2019 season with various shoulder issues that started early in the season and kept recurring.
If Severino undergoes the surgery as it appears he’ll have to, he won’t pitch in 2020, and part of 2021 may be in jeopardy depending on when he has the surgery and how quickly he recovers. Either way, it’s a significant blow for the Yankees, as Severino was a top-ten finisher in AL Cy Young voting in both 2017 and 2018.
The good news is the Yankees were aggressive during the offseason, adding the likes of Gerrit Cole to front their rotation. This will definitely hurt their depth, however.
