Luis Severino to undergo Tommy John Surgery
Luis Severino's 2020 season is officially over. After experiencing forearm tightness stemming from the end of the 2019 season, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Tuesday confirmed Severino will undergo Tommy John Surgery. Severino is slated to miss the entire 2020 season and will instead have to prepare for the 2021 campaign.
Brian Cashman announces that Luis Severino needs Tommy John surgery: pic.twitter.com/oHa1StBW1f
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 25, 2020
Sweeny Murti of WFAN added a dye contrast MRI revealed a partial tear in Severino's UCL. The Yankees are currently looking in house to replace Severino's rotation spot.
A dye contrast MRI finally revealed a partial UCL tear in Luis Severino. He is headed for Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2020 season. Testing also revealed pain in the area of the ligament for the first time. Brian Cashman said in-house competition will fill his spot.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) February 25, 2020
Severino has $31.25 million left in his contract, including a $15 million club option for the 2023 season. His injury is the latest to hit the Yankees pitching staff; James Paxton is currently recovering from back surgery that will keep him out of the Yankees rotation until May at the earliest. Behind Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery are expected to make the rotation. Guys like Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, Chad Bettis, Michael King, Deivi Garcia, and Clarke Schmidt are in-house options for the fifth spot.