TAMPA — Luis Severino, who is entering his eighth major league season and has the velocity and movement on his pitches that he seeks, is not worried about his spring training results — even if those results literally have been laughable.
“I got like a 10 or a 15 [ERA],” Severino said with a laugh. “I think that’s not going to work [in the regular season].”
His ERA is up to 10.64 after four starts in which his stuff has been crisp but his location mostly has been lousy.
On Wednesday, Severino walked the first two batters he faced, threw 30 pitches in the first inning and had to be pulled from the frame early.
He returned in the second and third, as the Grapefruit League allows, and settled into a groove.
With two more exhibition starts before the regular season begins, Severino is not yet worried about his arsenal.
“Not right now,” said Severino, who previously had struggled with his slider, but could not locate his fastball in the 9-8 loss to the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. “I’m trying to work on pitches and see which ones are going to work when I need it out there.”
Severino stretched out to 61 pitches, just 37 strikes.
His fastball lived in the mid-to-upper 90s, maxing out at 98.3 mph, and his slider and changeup improved as the game went on.
While acknowledging the location issues, manager Aaron Boone said he has no concerns with Severino.
“I really feel like he’s in a good spot. I think he’s throwing the ball well, it’s there,” said Boone, who added regular-season adrenaline will help. “He’s just got to … really dial in his command.”
The Yankees will need Severino this season, particularly with Carlos Rodon (mild forearm muscle strain) and Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery) injured.
Severino, who has not pitched a full season since 2018, sees hope in his stuff and in how he feels.
“I’m really happy that I’m healthy,” Severino said. “I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to feel tomorrow.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the start at third base and has begun breaking in a glove to use in the outfield, with a center-field start coming in the next few days.
He received the glove Tuesday.
“It’s really hard, but it’s all I got,” said Kiner-Falefa, whom the Yankees are playing essentially everywhere.
Kiner-Falefa said he has played maybe 10 games in the outfield in his life.
He has played catcher and shortstop, along with second and third base, and thinks he won’t have much issue adjusting.
“Shortstop’s the hardest position besides catcher, so [center field] shouldn’t be too hard,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I think the only hard part is going to be the line drives.”
Jose Trevino said his right wrist feels “good” after he sprained it while taking a swing last Thursday.
The Yankees catcher, who has not played since the injury, said he plans to begin swinging in the next couple days.
Trevino said he does not think the injury will affect his status for Opening Day on March 30.
Boone said the catcher could be back in the lineup this weekend.
“Hopefully,” Trevino said. “As soon as possible.”
The Yankees sent OF Michael Hermosillo, IF Jamie Westbrook and LHP Lisandro Santos to minor league camp.