The New York Yankees have called up their top prospect, right handed pitcher Luis Severino from their Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
top prospect luis severino will make his next start in the majors, brian cashman said. @YankeesWFAN with the report
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 31, 2015
The moment is bittersweet for Yankees fans as the only reason this move is happening is because C.C. Sabathia has underperformed, owning a 5.38 ERA this season, and Michael Pineda, while pitching well, can’t stay healthy, landing back on the disabled list with a right forearm issue. However, calling up Severino also signifies a willingness to try and produce some home grown talent, rather than the normal Yankee way of trying to buy everyone.
Baseball America ranks Severino as the #35 top prospect, and the #1 pitching prospect in the Yankees organization.
Severino’s numbers are to be expected of a top prospect. In 11 games at Triple-A, he is 7-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 61.1 innings pitched. What’s even more impressive is that Severino is only 21 and already in his 4th season of minor league ball.
The Yankees may at least be able to fill the void of Sabathia and Pineda, if not replace them. However at just 21 this is a big ask of Severino.
Severino will immediately slide into the Yankees rotation, and will also be joined most likely by Adam Warren. Severino’s last minor league start came on Wednesday. On normal rest that would set him up to pitch on Monday, but the Yankees have an off-day. His first start could come on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox.
Main Photo Credit:
Main Photo Caption: MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 13: Luis Severino #89 of the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Target Field on July 13, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
