Two American League teams with high hopes for the upcoming season lost some key pieces during Spring Training, one on the mound, and the other at the plate. First, the New York Yankees have shut down pitcher Luis Severino for two weeks due to rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder. The injury was confirmed during an MRI on Tuesday, as Severino is now expected to miss Opening Day at the end of the month. Manager Aaron Boone called it "highly unlikely" that the hurler will be good to go when the season gets underway on March 28th.
Severino was a late scratch for his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves for what was called right shoulder discomfort. That would've been his first start of the spring, as he was seen warming up like usual minutes before the game, but it was Stephen Tarpley who took over in a spot start. The Yankees' ace is coming off a season that saw him go 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 2018, which led to a four-year, $40 million extension during the off-season. He is now joined by James Paxton, along with Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia, and J.A. Happ in the Yankees' rotation, as they once again enter the season with hopes of October success.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins are hoping to be threats in the AL Central Division, but they will have to do so without Miguel Sano until at least May. The slugger is out until the second month of the season after undergoing a procedure to repair a severe cut on the heel of his right foot. The first baseman was sent to the plastic surgeon with the injury, as he has already underwent a procedure to remove damaged tissue and foreign objects from the wound. The injury occurred on January 26th in the Dominican Republic, where he slipped on some metal stairs on a stage while celebrating his Winter League Championship with his team.
Sano is expected to resume baseball activities in about three weeks, and then go to the minor leagues for some rehabilitation in mid-April. While he is out, recently-signed Marwin Gonzalez is expected to take over at first base in his place. Gonzalez was signed to a two-year contract this past off-season, this after enjoying plenty of success with the Houston Astros. Sano is hoping to bounce back from the injury and a tough 2018 season, where he batted a career-low .199 in just 71 games during a season that seen him going up and down from the minors.
Severino was a late scratch for his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves for what was called right shoulder discomfort. That would've been his first start of the spring, as he was seen warming up like usual minutes before the game, but it was Stephen Tarpley who took over in a spot start. The Yankees' ace is coming off a season that saw him go 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 2018, which led to a four-year, $40 million extension during the off-season. He is now joined by James Paxton, along with Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia, and J.A. Happ in the Yankees' rotation, as they once again enter the season with hopes of October success.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins are hoping to be threats in the AL Central Division, but they will have to do so without Miguel Sano until at least May. The slugger is out until the second month of the season after undergoing a procedure to repair a severe cut on the heel of his right foot. The first baseman was sent to the plastic surgeon with the injury, as he has already underwent a procedure to remove damaged tissue and foreign objects from the wound. The injury occurred on January 26th in the Dominican Republic, where he slipped on some metal stairs on a stage while celebrating his Winter League Championship with his team.
Sano is expected to resume baseball activities in about three weeks, and then go to the minor leagues for some rehabilitation in mid-April. While he is out, recently-signed Marwin Gonzalez is expected to take over at first base in his place. Gonzalez was signed to a two-year contract this past off-season, this after enjoying plenty of success with the Houston Astros. Sano is hoping to bounce back from the injury and a tough 2018 season, where he batted a career-low .199 in just 71 games during a season that seen him going up and down from the minors.
