Luis Severino is a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees. He is known for his powerful fastball and devastating slider, and has established himself as one of the top young pitchers in the game.
However, many fans may not know the story of how Severino came to join the Yankees organization. In this blog post, we will explore how the Yankees acquired Severino as an international free agent, including the signing process and Severino’s early years with the team.
Severino’s Early Career
Luis Severino was born in Sabana de la Mar, a small town in the Dominican Republic, in February 1994. Growing up, Severino showed a natural talent for baseball and began playing in local youth leagues at a young age.
He was eventually scouted by the Yankees and other MLB teams, and was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent in 2012.
Before signing with the Yankees, Severino had already gained some experience playing in the Dominican Summer League, a minor league system for young players in the Dominican Republic.
He made his professional debut in the DSL in 2011, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.68 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings pitched. This strong performance caught the attention of MLB scouts, and the Yankees were among the teams interested in signing him.
After signing with the Yankees, Severino continued to work his way up through the team’s minor league system. He played in the Gulf Coast League and the New York-Penn League in 2012 and 2013, respectively, before making his way to the Class-A Charleston RiverDogs in 2014.
Severino’s performance in Charleston was impressive, as he posted a 6-5 record with a 2.46 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings pitched. This earned him a promotion to the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees later that year, where he continued to dominate opposing batters.
Overall, Severino’s early career showed plenty of promise, and he was quickly establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the Yankees’ organization.
The Signing Process
Signing international free agents is a common practice in Major League Baseball, especially for teams like the Yankees who have a strong presence in the Dominican Republic and other countries where baseball is popular.
The process involves scouting and evaluating young players, negotiating with their representatives, and then signing them to contracts that typically include signing bonuses and other incentives.
In the case of Luis Severino, the Yankees were able to sign him to a contract in December 2011. However, they were not the only team interested in him.
The Colorado Rockies had also expressed interest in signing Severino and had made him an offer. The Yankees were able to match the Rockies’ offer, which was reportedly for $225,000, and convinced Severino to sign with their team instead.
One of the key factors in Severino’s decision to sign with the Yankees was the team’s scout, who had built a relationship with Severino and his family.
The scout was able to convince Severino that the Yankees would provide him with the best opportunity to develop as a player and reach his potential. In addition, Severino had grown up as a fan of the Yankees, which likely made the decision to sign with the team even more appealing.
Overall, the signing process for international free agents can be complex and competitive, with multiple teams vying for the same players. However, the Yankees were able to successfully acquire Luis Severino by matching the offer made by another team and leveraging the relationship that their scout had built with Severino and his family.
Severino’s Early Years With the Yankees
After signing with the Yankees, Luis Severino spent several years working his way up through the team’s minor league system, where he continued to impress with his strong pitching performances.
In 2015, he was called up to the major leagues and made his debut on August 5th, starting against the Boston Red Sox. Although he struggled in his first outing, he rebounded in his second start, pitching six scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians.
Severino’s 2016 season was a difficult one, as he struggled to find consistency on the mound and was eventually demoted back to the minor leagues. However, he continued to work on his craft and was called up again in September, pitching well in relief appearances.
The turning point for Severino came in 2017, when he emerged as one of the top young pitchers in baseball. He was named to the American League All-Star team and finished the season with a 14-6 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 230 strikeouts in 193 1/3 innings pitched.
His dominant performance on the mound earned him a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting, behind only Corey Kluber and Chris Sale.
Severino’s breakout season in 2017 was due in part to his improved command of his fastball and slider, which he used to devastating effect against opposing batters.
He also worked on developing a changeup, which gave him an additional weapon on the mound. Overall, Severino’s performance in 2017 showed that he had the potential to be a top-tier pitcher in the major leagues, and he has continued to be a key part of the Yankees’ pitching staff in the years since.
Luis Severino’s performance with the New York Yankees from 2015 to 2021:
| Year | Team | W-L Record | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | NYY | 5-3 | 2.89 | 62.1 | 56 | 1.20 |
| 2016 | NYY | 3-8 | 5.83 | 71.0 | 66 | 1.45 |
| 2017 | NYY | 14-6 | 2.98 | 193.1 | 230 | 1.04 |
| 2018 | NYY | 19-8 | 3.39 | 191.1 | 220 | 1.14 |
| 2019 | NYY | 1-1 | 1.50 | 12.0 | 17 | 0.83 |
| 2020 | NYY | 0-0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2021 | NYY | 2-2 | 4.57 | 21.2 | 18 | 1.39 |
The table shows Severino’s win-loss record, ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) for each season he has played with the Yankees.
It provides a snapshot of his performance over time and highlights the ups and downs he has experienced in his career with the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What made Luis Severino such an attractive prospect for the Yankees?
Luis Severino was known for his high-velocity fastball and sharp slider, which made him a difficult pitcher for batters to face. He also showed a great deal of poise and maturity on the mound for his age, which suggested that he had the mental toughness to succeed at the major league level.
How did the Yankees’ scout convince Severino to sign with the team?
According to reports, the Yankees’ scout built a strong relationship with Severino and his family, which helped to sway him towards signing with the team. The scout also emphasized the Yankees’ history of developing young pitchers and the team’s commitment to winning as factors that would benefit Severino in the long run.
What challenges did Severino face in his early years with the Yankees?
Severino struggled with consistency and command issues in his first couple of seasons with the Yankees, which led to some ups and downs on the mound. He also faced pressure to perform at a high level in a market like New York, which can be intimidating for young players.
What has Severino’s performance been like in recent years?
Severino has continued to be a strong performer for the Yankees when he has been healthy, but he has battled injuries that have limited his availability. In 2019, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of the 2020 season as a result. He returned to the mound in 2021 but struggled to regain his form, finishing the year with a 2-2 record and a 4.57 ERA in 14 appearances.
To Recap
The acquisition of Luis Severino by the New York Yankees as an international free agent was a key moment in his career and in the history of the team.
Despite facing competition from other teams, the Yankees were able to sign Severino by matching the offer made by the Colorado Rockies and leveraging the relationship that their scout had built with him and his family.
After signing with the Yankees, Severino spent several years developing his skills in the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 2015.
Although he struggled initially and was demoted to the minor leagues in 2016, he bounced back in a big way in 2017, putting together a dominant season that earned him an All-Star selection and a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Since then, Severino has continued to be a key part of the Yankees’ pitching staff, and he has shown that he has the potential to be one of the top pitchers in the game.
His journey from international free agent signing to major league star is a testament to his talent and hard work, as well as to the Yankees’ scouting and development system.
