Luis Severino is officially on the comeback trail, making his first rehab appearance on Sunday afternoon with the Tampa Tarpons on his road back from Tommy John surgery last spring.
Severino threw 34 pitches over 2 2/3 innings for Tampa against the Lakeland Tigers, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three. Of those 34 pitches, 11 were sliders, roughly one-third breaking balls in his first official action since Game 3 of the 2019 ALCS against Houston.
Even more encouraging? Sevy averaged 96.8 MPH on his heater, topping out at 98.8. Check out some footage of him on the mound below courtesy of Pinstriped Prospects:
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had said earlier in the week that he wasn’t sure what the pitch count for Sevy’s first outing would be, but his last sim game was three innings, so he was expected to be somewhere in the 30-40 range.
Prior to Sunday's series finale with Boston, however, Boone said he was encouraged by Sevy's outing.
"Very encouraged," Boone said. "I have not seen the video yet, but my understanding -- he threw the ball really well, upper 90s with his fastball, went out for a third inning just 'cause his pitch count was so low. And what I've seen in his live batting practice sessions leading up to this have been really good. I know he feels really well, so continue to be encouraged and it sounds like today was another positive step."
Working with Austin Wells, the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2020, Severino struck out two and then worked around a two-out walk in the first, then recorded his third K in a 1-2-3 second. In the third, however, Sevy allowed a leadoff double and a two-out single by Gage Workman plated the run.
Beck Way, the Yankees’ fourth-round pick in 2020, relieved Sevy, and got the final out of the third to limit the damage.
The Yankees are hopeful that Severino could return sometime around the All-Star break if all goes well, and with his rehab clock beginning Sunday, he would need to be activated by July 6 barring a setback.
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