TRENTON – Luis Severino, arguably the top prospect in the Yankees’ organization, has been placed on the disabled list at Double-A Trenton with an oblique injury.
The 20-year-old Severino has dominated at Charleston and Tampa this season, and looked very sharp in his first three starts with the Thunder. In 21 starts over three levels this season, Severino is 6-3 with a 2.36 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched, including a 2-0 record and 1.84 ERA with Trenton.
Severino was not available during pre-game to comment on the injury because he was in the trainer’s room, but Thunder manager Tony Franklin deemed the move “precautionary” during his media session. Franklin indicated that Severino would not be reevaluated for at least a week.
“No need to rush. Everybody knows it’s a mild oblique,” Franklin said. “He’s working at it and trying to feel his way through this. I think this is a good move.”
Franklin also remained coy when asked when his top pitcher would return to the mound, indicating that the determination of whether Severino would pitch again this season had still not been made.
“I’m not saying he’s done for the year, but I can’t give you a specific date when we think he’s going to return,” Franklin noted. “It all depends on how he’s going to feel. He’s a tough kid, he wants to get out there, no question about that.”
“We’re going to see how he feels in a few weeks or a week or so and then we can decide,” Franklin added. “If we can get him back out, great. If not, there’s always next year.”
