Yankees’ Luis Severino: ‘I want to be a Yankee for life’ as contract option looms

TAMPA — It was always heading to be this way. Whether Luis Severino gained consecutive American League Cy Youthful awards or stayed on the trainers’ table, a single factor was often heading to be genuine: He would have to establish to the Yankees that it would be truly worth activating his $15-million choice for 2023.

He’s seeking farther than that, even though.

“I want to be a Yankee my total existence,” Severino explained to NJ Advance Media in the clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday. “I want to be listed here.”

“I came here when I was 17 several years previous. I’m 28 correct now. For me, it is large. I want to be healthy. I want to acquire. But I want to be healthy simply because I want to be a Yankee for daily life.”

To start with, Severino has to deal with enterprise this time. Right after injuries limited him to just 4 common-time online games and two postseason video games due to the fact signing a 4-calendar year, $40-million extension in 2019, he mentioned he’s sturdy and as healthy as he’s ever been.

“I experience really superior,” Severino mentioned.

On Tuesday, Severino threw 34 pitches in dwell batting follow against Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo and Josh Donaldson. He said Wednesday he believes his next outing could be in a spring instruction video game.

“That’s a single dude I’m undoubtedly enthusiastic to see back and see healthy, see on the mound again,” Decide explained Wednesday. “I really faced him a couple of times in the offseason. He joked around and mentioned, ‘Yeah, my bullpens I’ve been 91 mph, 92 mph. I’m seeking to get 93 mph currently. Initially pitch he threw to me was 97 mph. So, I think he’s likely to be in a great situation. I never want him to hurry. I want him to just take his staff. It is a extensive year. We require him for 162 (online games). But he’s likely to be a big weapon for us. Before we went out and got Gerrit Cole, he was just one of the best pitchers on the activity. Sevy was our ace. He was our man we went to in significant online games, he pitched in huge video games and playoff online games and to pair him up with Cole and the relaxation of our employees is heading be one thing exclusive that we have been lacking.”

“He’s eager ideal now,” manager Aaron Boone explained Wednesday. “He’s needed to press the envelope a small little bit as significantly as, he’s in all probability our most ahead pitcher. … He’s taken his eating plan quite severely. I come to feel like he’s on a mission to go out and establish himself as one particular of the wonderful starters in this league and I’m definitely happy with where by he’s at this point.”

The Yankees gave Severino a $225,000 signing bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2011.

He speedily turned one of their best pitching prospects, his fastball often touching the substantial-90s, paired with a devastating slider and on-once again, off-again changeup. He had a strong debut in 2014, stumbled in 2015, and became a single of the very best pitchers in the league. In 2017, Severino completed third in the American League Cy Young vote and he was an All-Star. He was also an All-Star in 2018 although ending ninth in the Cy Younger vote.

The Yankees paid him like he was likely to be just one of the top rated pitchers in the sport in February 2019. He’s hardly pitched due to the fact. Now, he’s decided to show to the Yankees that he’s truly worth maintaining close to.

“It’s important to me,” Severino claimed.

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Brendan Kuty may perhaps be arrived at at [email protected].