Yanks will be cautious with Severino’s workload
TAMPA — Cautious but not restricted.
That’s the plan for handling Luis Severino, whose 209 ¹/3 inningspitched a year ago easily were the most of the right-hander’s brief professional career.
“We will be careful, there is nothing we have talked about an innings limit or anything like that,’’ manager Aaron Boone said of monitoring Severino’s workload.
Severino’s 2017 total includes 16 postseason frames. He went 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 31 regular-season starts and finished third in the AL Cy Young voting.
Severino, who turns 24 on Tues- day, is listed at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds and is built to handle the stress of big league starts.
“He is a guy who is physical and a guy who wants to be known not just as a great pitcher but a horse in the rotation,’’ Boone said.
Severino’s 2015 season ended with 161 ¹/3 combined innings between Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues. The next season, which was a nightmare and included being sent to the minors after opening in the big leagues, saw Severino hurl 151 ¹/3 frames at three levels.
Those 2016 struggles helped Severino post a superlative 2017 and will continue to help him in the future.
“As a young player, when you are able to go through a lot, especially playing in New York at the big league level, it strengthens who you are and helps you develop who you are and find yourself at an earlier age with your pitch selection and repertoire,’’ Boone said. “And he is one of those guys that I see right now with a hunger to be great.’’
Position players report to camp Sunday and the first full-squad workout is Monday for 63 players. … After taking batting practice at the minor league complex on Fri- day, Giancarlo Stanton was at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday.
Like Thairo Estrada, Gleyber Torres is from Venezuela and is concerned about the dangers facing professional baseball players there. Estrada was shot in the right hip in late January during a holdup outside a restaurant.
“It’s bad, the country is bad. It’s difficult. The only thing is [Estrada] feels good right now,’’ Torres said. “The last time I was there was Jan. 10. I went for Christmas.’’
Did Torres, who is competing for the starting second base job, feel in danger in Venezuela?
“Not really. Some parts of Venezuela are different. The country is difficult right now,’’ said Torres, who lives in a suburb of Caracas.
The Yankees had scout Jay Darnell at Tim Lincecum’s showcase Thursday in Kent, Wash. Multiple reports said Lincecum was impressive, showing increased velocity since he last pitched in the majors for the Angels in 2016.
With a full barn of starters and Luis Cessa and Chance Adams providing Triple-A depth, the Yankees don’t have room for the veteran right-hander who won consecutive NL Cy Young awards with the Giants in 2008 and 2009. However, if the 33-year-old Lincecum is open to starting the season in the minors, that could change the dynamic.