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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees looks on after giving up a two run home run to Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on May 8, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Luis Severino not guaranteed rotation spot when healthy

Job security within the game of baseball is never a given, and Luis Severino may be pitching for his after returning from injury.

Injuries are a part of the game, but to add on to this whirlwind of a season, GM Brian Cashman was not committing one way or another on Severino’s rotation spot once the young pitcher is eligible to come off the disabled list.

“We’ll have to wait and see when he comes back,” said GM Brian Cashman via Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. Right now, Severino won’t pick up a baseball for 5-7 days. He’ll be re-evaluated in a week or so.

Consistency in the big leagues is also hard to come by. Young prospects have a tendency to have up and down beginnings to their careers, and Severino has been no different thus far through a year and a half.

A career that started off hot a year ago in the majors for the fireball pitcher has turned into a rough entrance into his sophomore campaign. Last season, a 5-3 record complimented with an ERA of 2.89 placed high expectations on the right-handed pitcher coming into the season. Severino moved through the system quickly because of his electric fastball. But so far this year, it has been the contrary.

To start off the 2016 season, Severino is 0-6 with an ERA north of seven through his first seven starts, and now he’s dealing with the first DL stint of his young career.

The injury and the poor start from Severino caused many to question if he was pitching hurt, but Cashman believes the injury cropped up out of nowhere on Friday night.

“His stuff’s not there,” said Cashman via Kuty. “His arm strength is there but his stuff isn’t there. He doesn’t have command of his secondary pitches. His change up and his slider have been inconsistent. It’s not health-related.”

Severino maintains the triceps injury is not a long-term issue.”I’ve felt good all year,” he said. Once Severino comes back from injury, a rehab start will be important to get back on track.

What may get lost in the young and so far demoralizing season, is the fact he is only 22-years-old. Baseball has a track record of being a harsh game and some of the best players in the game today and in the past had slow starts and were sent down to the minors to find their groove.

Greg Maddux started off his career in 1986 at the age of 20. His first six starts resulted in a 2-4 record with an ERA of 5.52. His sophomore season was even more rocky, starting 30 games but pitching to a 6-14 record with an ERA of 5.61.

Not to say Severino will mirror exactly what Maddux did during his hall of fame career, but giving Severino time to find his best pitches and command could pay dividends for the Yankees.

The expectations are high for the flamethrower who touches 97 MPH on a consistent basis with his fastball, and time will tell if he can compliment the velocity with control.