SF. PETERSBURG — The start of Luis Severino’s rehab assignment is just around the corner.
right hand, out of end of spring training with a lat injury, is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, according to Aaron Boone. Severino will fly home from Tampa Bay with the team on Sunday after throwing three innings and 40 pitches in an intrasquad game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday.
The game was closed to the media, but Boone said the Yankees’ player development staff and trainers watched Severino throw.
The manager added that Severino will need “at least a few” starts in the minors before he can debut in 2023 for the Yankees. He will target 50 pitches Wednesday with the RailRiders.
Severino, an impending free agent, has pitched in just 26 games since 2019, including 19 starts last season when he posted a 3.18 ERA. Severino is one of three Yankees starters to start the year on the disabled list, joining Frankie Montas and Carlos Rodon.
THE LAST ON RODON
Speaking of Rodon, left-handed back injection was scheduled for Tuesday, according to Boone. He will resume throwing after the shot as soon as he is cleared to do so, but a timeline for that is unclear. The same goes for Rodon’s debut in pinstripes.
AND DONALDSON?
The plan is for Josh Donaldson (hamstring) to begin stepping up baseball activities in the Bronx next week, according to Boone. So far, he’s taken ground balls while limiting his movement, increased his running and hitting.
CLOSER TO THE ROAD
Boone said he might consider using Michael King as a closer “at some point” when asked about the right-hander’s potential in such a role. But Boone noted that King is ready for a multi-inning job where he is incredibly valuable.
Boone said King’s role will “hopefully evolve,” but the Yankees are still wary of the right-hander after a stress fracture in his pitching elbow cut short his 2022 campaign.
King has three career saves, including two this season. He also owns a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings. All of his appearances went over one inning and several days passed between each outing.
The Yankees’ shutout gig has been a topic of conversation thanks to some hiccups from Clay Holmes, but it doesn’t look like anything is imminent for the King.
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