By WFAN.com
Luis Severino was originally expected to return to the mound in May, but after Tuesday night's news, it looks like it will be much longer than that before the Yankees ace makes his season debut.
Severino underwent an MRI Tuesday after feeling some discomfort following his latest long toss session and has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain, according to WFAN's Sweeny Murti.
He will be shut down from throwing for six weeks.
MRI on Severino showed Grade 2 strained lat. He will be shut down for 6 weeks. This is a separate injury than the previous shoulder issue, presumed to have occurred some time during the throwing program.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) April 9, 2019The injury is a new one, and is not releated to the rotator cuff inflammation that the young pitcher suffered during spring training.
Severino did not throw a single game this spring due to the shoulder inflammation, and now with this new injury, it appears unlikely he will be able to take the mound for the Yankees until at least the All-Star break.
The Yankees signed Severino to a four-year, $40 million contract in February.
Last season, Severino went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.145 WHIP, while racking up 220 strikeouts in 191.1 innings. The 25-year-old is viewed as the team's ace of the present and the future, but injury issues could complicate that.
New York will have to survive with a depleted rotation, as Severino and CC Sabathia are both currently on the injured list.
