The New York Yankees hope to get ace starter Luis Severino back on the bump at some point during the stretch run after he’s missed the first four-plus months of the season to right rotator cuff inflammation and a right lat strain.
Things seem to be trending in the right direction here. Severino threw off the mound for the first time all year Sunday prior to New York’s game against the Cleveland Indians.
It went well.
“It felt great. I haven’t been on a real mound this year. It feels very good,” Severino said, via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “It’s coming along. The fastball is there. I feel like I am on the right track.”
Severino threw 16 pitches to three simulated hitters and felt like he had it. The next step in the process is for the ace to take part in a Minor League rehab assignment. If there’s no setbacks he could return to the Majors at some point next month.
The two-time All-Star pitched to a 19-8 record with a 3.39 ERA and 1.15 WHIP en route to finishing in the top 10 of AL Cy Young voting last season.
A return to the majors would be a major boon for these Yankees, especially after they were uncharacteristically inactive during last month’s trade deadline.