Severino begins quest for spot in starting rotation
TAMPA — Luis Severino threw batting practice to a group of hitters that included Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres on Friday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
It didn’t matter there were a handful of people in the seats and jackhammers provided the background music under a blue sky and warm sun.
Nor were the results, mostly foul balls that never left the batting cage or grounders, all that important.
What it did symbolize for the Yankees was a two-for-one spring training peek at what they sincerely hope are big parts of their present and future.
Severino, who turns 23 on Monday, is competing for a spot in the rotation after failing miserably as a starter last year. Sanchez, 24, is the No. 1 catcher and Torres, 20, is among the top prospects in baseball.
It was a clear picture of why the romance of spring training never dies because it includes big-name talents at a very young age.
Adam Warren, who will make the team as a starter or reliever, preceded Severino to the mound and faced the same hitters, but the attention around the batting cage intensified when Severino started working.
Severino is one of five hurlers competing for the final two spots in Joe Girardi’s rotation. Chad Green, Luis Cessa, Bryan Mitchell and Warren are the others. Severino’s 33 big league games (22 starts) are more than Green (12/8), Cessa (17/9) and Mitchell (28/9) have. Warren has appeared in 205 games, but Severino’s 22 starts are one more than Warren has made.
“We have always considered him to be a starter and if you go through things you are not exactly sure where a pitcher is going to fit in,’’ Girardi said of Severino, who failed to build on a strong, if short, 2016 season when he was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 games. “He’s got three pitches and to be a starter I think the pitches have to be more consistent because [the batters] see you more than once and that is the big thing for him.’’
Prior to spring training, general manager Brian Cashman said if Severino didn’t make the big league rotation he would start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Though that plan is still an option, the Yankees haven’t totally erased Severino from a bullpen spot. Based on the way Severino pitched in his first taste of big league relief, it would be wise to take a look.
As a reliever, Severino went 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in 11 outings and fanned 25 in 23 ¹/3 innings. In 11 starts, Severino was 0-8 with an 8.50 ERA.
“He did a really good job in that role when we were using him for nine outs, 12 outs, but he is a guy vying for a [starter’s] position,’’ Girardi said.
Out of the fastball, slider and change-up, the last one was problematic. However, even though the heater was clocked at 97 mph, it wasn’t always properly located, according to Girardi.
“I think it was a combination of both. At times the ball came back over the middle of the plate,’’ Girardi said. “And he was basically a two-pitch pitcher and you are going through a lineup a second and third time as a two-pitch pitcher it becomes more difficult.’’
Big league starter. Big league reliever. Triple-A starter. It’s a debate that likely will continue deep into March.