The New York Yankees are going to start the 2020 season off without starting pitcher Luis Severino. The team announced that Luis Severino is reportedly going to be on the shelf after being informed that he will need to undergo Tommy John Surgery. This is not the first Yankees pitcher to go down with an injury this year, with James Paxton sustaining an injury that will keep him out until the middle of the year. Bryan Hoch of MLB dot com tweeted out the news that came from Brian Cashman.
Brian Cashman says Luis Severino needs Tommy John surgery.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 25, 2020
The Yankees ace missed almost all of the 2019 season, making three starts at the end of the year. He made three starts, totaling twelve innings pitched where he would walk six, strikeout eight, and carry a 1.50 ERA for the Yankees. This blow to the Yankees rotation is less than ideal, especially after the team shelled out major money this offseason to bolster their rotation. The Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a monster nine-year, $324 million contract, but the rotation that was strong is dwindling already.
With the loss of Severino, the Yankees rotation dwindles to Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, JA Happ, Jordan Montgomery, leaving the fifth spot up for grabs. Currently, that spot seems like it will go to Jonathan Loaisiga or Mike King, depending on how Spring Training shakes out. Keep in mind; the Yankees will also get starter Domingo German back this summer after he completes the remainder of his suspension for his domestic violence issue. Hopefully, the Yankees can start out strong, so when German and Paxton return in the summe,r they will be getting a nice added boost to their rotation.
