Positive Pax with Sevy’s fate unclear
TAMPA — With the Yankees’ fingers firmly crossed that Luis Severino’s upcoming battery of tests on his right forearm, which begin Monday, don’t uncover a serious problem, they received positive news on James Paxton’s progress after back surgery earlier this month.
According to Paxton, he has increased his rehab workload following the Feb. 5 procedure and could be playing catch in 10 days.
“Ten days puts it at four weeks. It depends how I respond to the treatments the next 10 days,’’ Paxton said during the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays in the exhibition season opener Saturday at Steinbrenner Field. “Everything has been going really well. I am optimistic.’’
When the Yankees announced Paxton could miss 3-4 months, many began doing the math from the start of the season, which is March 26. However, more in line with that prognosis was the rehab starting immediately after the surgery. That means if Paxton continues to progress, he could be back as soon as early May.
When it comes to Severino, the Yankees can’t be optimistic or pessimistic because after two MRI exams and a CT scan in the offseason that were clean, the soreness in his right forearm resurfaced this past week — when the right-hander threw changeups, but not when his fastball and curveball were delivered. Severino flies to New York on Sunday and will begin three days of tests at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
According to manager Aaron Boone, the Yankees are in a holding pattern with Severino, who received soft tissue treatment Saturday.
“We are kind of waiting to see how the early week unfolds,’’ Boone said.
Paxton has progressed to the point at which his program has increased.
“We are upping the exercises each day,’’ Paxton said before Saturday’s game. “Monday we are going to add resistance to leg exercises. I am moving along really well. No setbacks so far.’’
Depending on what three days of testing uncover about Severino’s cranky right forearm, Paxton making it back in early May as opposed to later in the month would be a plus either way. If Severino’s problem isn’t serious and Paxton makes it back in early May, the Yankees will be in good shape. If Severino is forced to miss extended time, it would benefit the Yankees to get Paxton back before he was expected.
Severino missed the first five months of last season due to an inflamed rotator cuff problem and a lat injury while rehabbing the rotator cuff. He appeared in three September games and made two starts in the ALCS against the Astros.
As for Paxton, he obviously is looking forward to participating in a simple game of catch, which millions of people do every day.
“At least the ball will be in my hand,’’ said Paxton, who went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Paxton described his post-surgery pain as “pretty normal and it has gone away quickly.’’
Boone knew Paxton might be able to play catch in 10 days because that was in the original timeline laid out when the process started.
“Hearing how he was responding to the surgery the days after and to this point, I feel that is kind of the timeline,’’ Boone said. “He should get built up. I feel like he is doing really well. Each day has been good. He is moving around more. I think the good thing with this, which kind of nagged him a little bit toward the end of the season and into the postseason and obviously into the offseason, I feel like that is probably behind him now.’’
TAMPA — Aaron Boone doesn’t have a date when Aaron Judge will play in an exhibition game and the slugger has yet to take a full batting practice, but the Yankees manager doesn’t sound like a worried man.
“Judge hit again [Saturday] and threw out to 90 feet,’’ Boone said of his right fielder, who hasn’t swung a bat against a batting practice hurler because of a right shoulder problem that surfaced before spring training started. “He is good, he is fine. We will be conservative with how we build him up hitting because I think he was 40 or 50 swings off a tee. He will graduate to soft toss. We won’t rush anything but he is fine.’’
Regulars DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela started in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field, and Miguel Andujar and Luke Voit will debut Sunday in Port Charlotte against the Rays, and Gary Sanchez, Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton will get their first taste of exhibition baseball Monday night against the
Pirates at home. But Boone didn’t predict when Judge would surface.
“I haven’t seen the progression we have for him. I am sure we will take it conservative as far as getting him outside hitting and getting real at-bats,’’ Boone said. “He is fine and even when we shut him down from hitting he has been doing his defensive work and running, but I am not exactly sure when he will debut yet.’’
➤ Asked if all his players were all right after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field, Boone said, “I think we did all right. Try to get a few more runs [Sunday].’’
➤ Right-hander Mike King is in the mix for a rotation spot with James Paxton expected to miss at least the first two months of the season because of back surgery earlier this month and Luis Severino headed to New York for three days of tests on his right forearm.
“I don’t know if I will ever feel that way,’’ King said when asked about competing for a big league rotation spot. “My whole mentality when I first came in — and that was before any type of injury — was just make it as hard of a decision as possible to send me down and I am going to keep that type of mentality. Wherever the cards fall.’’
The right-handed King replaced J.A. Happ who started the 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday and retired all six batters. King gave up two hits and a walk but no runs in 1 2/3 innings.
King pitched two innings of one big league game a year ago and missed spring training and four months because of an arm injury.