In Monday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino had an incredible game from the mound.
In seven innings, he allowed no hits and just one walk, striking out seven in the dominant affair.
He was at 94 pitches, so his manager Aaron Boone did not send him out for the eighth inning, looking to preserve his arm for the playoffs.
The hurler didn’t like the decision, as he clearly wanted to go for the no-hitter, but Boone ended up making the right decision by pulling him.
Severino hasn’t always been healthy in recent years.
He has suffered lat, groin, and elbow issues that eventually led to Tommy John surgery.
But there is no doubt that he is as dominant as they get when he is healthy.
The Yankees Won’t Let Him Test Free Agency
He could potentially enter free agency this season if the Yankees decline a club option.
That won’t be happening, though, as one Yankees insider explained via Twitter.
“Severino has a $15M club option for 2023. That will be an easy decision for the Yankees,” YES Network’s Jack Curry said.
Severino has a $15M club option for 2023. That will be an easy decision for the Yankees.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) October 4, 2022
Severino is just 28: yes, he has been around for too long perhaps, and he had barely pitched since 2019 (at least before this season), but his stuff is still there.
He has a high-90s fastball that hitters struggle to catch up to, and still has that wipeout slider, too.
The numbers, in 2022, have shown he still has it.
In 19 starts and 102 innings, ‘Sevy’ has a rock-solid 3.18 ERA, a 3.70 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), 112 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP.
He figures to be an important piece for the postseason, as the Yankees will try to win their first World Series title since 2009.
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