Luis Severino’s nightmarish season meets a painful end akin to ‘somebody shot’

Luis Severino‘s chances of concluding a challenging season on a high note were probably extinguished on Friday evening. During the Yankees’ 8-2 defeat against the Brewers, the right-handed pitcher departed his start due to a left side injury after conceding a leadoff single to Brice Turang to begin the top of the fifth inning.

As the situation developed, Luis Severino, visibly in discomfort, let go of his glove and was promptly examined by the medical staff. He was subsequently taken out of the game, with Jhony Brito taking his place on the mound. It’s worth noting that Luis Severino, who is approaching free agency at 29 years old, left the game with a 6.65 ERA.

Luis Severino exits the mound in the 5th inning after his 70th pitch of the night. pic.twitter.com/2wIHSwIEmr

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 9, 2023

The Yankees have announced that Luis Severino will undergo additional tests on Saturday. Following the game, the starter emotionally expressed that he felt as though “someone had shot” him.

Luis Severino conveyed that he had been experiencing improvement in his condition, and he noted that his overall physical well-being had been excellent. He expressed surprise at the unexpected turn of events.

Since 2019, Luis Severino has been grappling with injuries, which have significantly disrupted what once appeared to be a promising career. Even before Friday’s injury, the offseason market for the Yankees starter was uncertain, and this latest setback may have further clouded his prospects.

On Saturday, Luis Severino is slated to undergo diagnostic testing on his left side, stemming from his premature exit in Friday’s game against the Brewers.

“I feel like somebody shot me. It’s just like a deep, sharp pain,” he said.

Luis Severino seemed to experience discomfort in his left side or oblique region while pitching in the top of the fifth inning, prompting an early departure following a brief mound visit. His performance saw him charged with two earned runs, conceding four hits and one walk while striking out five over four innings. Should an oblique strain be confirmed, it could potentially mark the end of his tenure with the Yankees, as the 29-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent in the upcoming winter.

Is Luis Severino’s Yankees career over?

The Yankees are swiftly approaching the end of their season, and on Friday at Yankee Stadium, they were dealt another blow with an 8-2 loss to the Brewers. For Luis Severino, his season — and potentially his tenure with the Yankees — could have come to a close in yet another disappointing start.

The right-hander’s aspirations of concluding a challenging year on a high note suffered another setback as he exited the game due to what the Yankees officially labeled as a “left-side injury.” After the game, Luis Severino described his condition in an emotional manner, stating that he felt as though he had been shot and was experiencing a deep, sharp pain.

An emotional Luis Severino describes the pain he felt on the mound: "I feel like somebody shot me." pic.twitter.com/7XCvgPqnfF

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 9, 2023

The Yankees’ performance took a downturn in the top of the seventh inning due to three defensive miscues that allowed three runs to score. They added to their troubles by conceding three more runs in the eighth. His injury occurred on the 70th and final pitch of his night when Brice Turang led off the top of the fifth with a single. Luis Severino, clearly in discomfort, dropped his glove during the play. The team’s training staff promptly examined him, and he was subsequently pulled from the game, with Jhony Brito taking his place.

Luis Severino, who is on track to enter free agency after the season, is scheduled for additional tests on Saturday.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed his disappointment regarding the injury, mentioning that he never wanted to see such setbacks. He praised Luis Severino’s recent performance, noting that he had been throwing the ball exceptionally well. Boone acknowledged the challenges the Yankees starter had faced over the past few years, including injuries and struggles during the current season. However, he believed that Luis Severino had shown improvement in the last four weeks and described the situation as unfortunate.

Luis Severino remains "in a lot of pain" after exiting Friday's game against the Brewers, Aaron Boone tells @M_Marakovits. pic.twitter.com/Rf5RasZvVV

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 9, 2023

Luis Severino, whose ERA now stands at 6.65, had given up a two-run homer to Willy Adames in the third inning as he aimed to rebound from a challenging performance in his last start in Houston. Injury problems have plagued him in every season since 2019, derailing what had been a promising career.

In the latest game, he averaged 96.1 mph with 29 fastballs, slightly below his season average of 96.5 mph. Both Boone and his starter noted that the pain only occurred on his last pitch.

Luis Severino is currently in the option year of a contract worth $55 million over five seasons, earning $15 million for this season. He had a standout 19-8 record in 2018 and was selected as an All-Star for the second consecutive year. However, his performance has declined, as he holds a 13-12 record with a 4.47 ERA in 45 starts since. In 2019, he suffered a lat muscle strain and didn’t make his first start until September 17. He then underwent Tommy John surgery on February 27, 2020. Luis Severino returned in September 2021, making three appearances, but missed two months last season due to right shoulder tightness.

The outlook for Luis Severino’s market value this offseason was already uncertain, and his recent injury may have further clouded his prospects. He has not appeared in more than 19 regular-season games since 2018 and is set to turn 30 in February.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.