New York Yankees will have to find a way to be competitive without two-times All-Star Luis Severino for the second year straight. The team announced on Tuesday that Severino will undergo Tommy John surgery, which will prevent him from playing in 2020.
Severino struggled with injuries for the major part of the last season, managing to play only three games. Following the end of the season, the 26-year-old complained about discomfort in his elbow and underwent MRI and CT scans.
While the initial test came back negative, the Yankees sent Severino to do further testing in recent weeks. The results from additional confirmed the team’s suspicions and showed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.
While this news put Yankees in a tough position, especially since the free-agent market dried out, manager Aaron Boone is convinced that the team will be able to overcome Severino’s injury.
“I don’t want to sugarcoat the fact that being without Sevy, that’s a blow, but it doesn’t change our expectations and what we’re truly capable of,” said Boone. “So, no, nothing changes.”
Luis Severino made his MLB debut in 2015 and slowly worked his way into Yankees’ rotation. He had his best season in 2018 when he picked up his second consecutive All-Star appearance and posted 19-8 record with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts.
Severino career stats include 42-26 record with a 3.46 ERA and 589 strikeouts.