Lockout Won’t Slow This New York Yankees’ Bid for Rotation Return

The Super Bowl has come and gone. Most years, Major League Baseball players would be flocking to Florida and Arizona to begin spring training. That is not happening now due to this insane lockout. It may be a while before the Major League owners and the MLB Players Association get on the same page. However, some MLB players are putting aside the noise and are focused on getting healthy. One of them could be a very important piece to the 2022 New York Yankees starting rotation and that is clearly where he wants to be.

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Kristi Ackert of nydailynews.com caught up with Luis Severino to see what is on the mind of the young right-handed pitcher. Severino is a big wild card and could catapult the Bombers into a statistical favorite in the East, if he is healthy. “I am working out, throwing bullpens, getting ready,” Severino said after the players’ union meeting last week. When asked specifically about his role, Severino was beginning to get stretched out to start. “That’s the plan. I had been a reliever [at the end of last season], but I am a starter. So that’s the plan, stretch out as best I can.”

Severino came back in late September for New York, following Tommy John Surgery back in February of 2020. The crafty right-hander was outstanding in his 4 short regular season appearances in 2021. He pitched 6 innings in total and gave up no runs, 2 hits, one walk and 8 strikeouts. Severino pitched one and a third innings in the Wild Card Game against the Boston Red Sox and gave up 1 run. Those are great numbers out of the bullpen. But Severino wants to be a starter and I don't think he is the only one contemplating that scenario. Many Yankee fans are anxious to see the Gerrit Cole/Luis Severino one-two punch. Severino could be that needed addition to the Bombers rotation.

Will the starting rotation be where Severino finds a home with the Pinstripes this season? Unfortunately, everyone that can answer that question, can't answer that question. MLB team personnel cannot talk about any Major League service players. Hopefully that ends soon and Severino is taking the mound every 5 days!