Luis Severino made his 2024 spring training debut for the Mets on Friday against the Cardinals. It was a successful debut for the righty Severino. He tossed two scoreless innings against the Cardinals, allowing no hits or walks, while striking out one. He threw 30 pitches (18 for strikes) in the Mets’ 3-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Red Birds in Jupiter.
The Mets, who are without Kodai Senga for the foreseeable future, really need Severino to be successful this season. The righty has struggled the past few seasons with performance and injury, but has been thrust into a prominent role with the Mets in 2024.
Luis Severino. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Severino was, however, one of the league’s best from 2017-2018 before facing injury in 2018. From 2019-2021 he threw just 18 innings, going on and off the injured list and being forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. Last season he continued to struggle to rebound, posting a 6.65 ERA through just 19 outings. Still, Severino has a career 3.79 ERA with 788 strikeouts in 727 1/3 innings pitched, and a 54-37 record in his career.
With the four seasons showing to be a grind for the former Yankee, Severino hopes he can finally get off on the right foot for the Mets in 2024. Friday was the first indicator of health for Severino. During his outing, he touched 98 mph on the radar gun on his fastball. Severino also topped at 96 mph for his sinker in his outing. Both the fastball and sinker produced swings and misses, with his lone strikeout of the afternoon coming on the 98 mph fastball.
“I have some in the tank,” Severino said after his outing. “I was just waiting for the perfect time to do it.”
Carlos Mendoza, the Mets new manager, has seen Severino’s struggles first-hand, serving as a bench coach for the Yankees during Severino’s tenure there as well.
“He’s been through a lot in the past couple of years with injuries,” said Mendoza. “But now he’s in a good place. It’s important. This is a big year for him, and we’re going to need him. We’re counting on him. I’m excited to see Sevy returning to his old form.”
Mendoza also spoke on the way Severino used all of his pitches, including a strong changeup to produce a swing and miss to a righty on a changeup when he was behind in the count.
“The way he was using all of his pitches, I was pleased. Overall, a positive outing for him.”
With Senga going down, Severino moves from a middle-of-the-pack pitcher to a guy who could find himself at the top of the rotation. It is expected that José Quintana will make the opening day start, with José Butto and Tylor Megill both still in the equation as well. But with Senga down, Severino has the potential to claim the top spot in the rotation early in the 2024 season.
