NEW YORK _ Luis Severino has been cleared to throw _ again. The Yankees' right-hander will begin his third rehab throwing program this week, Aaron Boone announced Sunday. There is no time table or plan for when Severino will be able to return, the Yankees manager added.
"Sevy has been cleared to start throwing Monday. He and Dellin (Betances) will start their throwing program Monday," Boone said before Sunday's series-finale against the Blue Jays at the Stadium. "I am excited about that and hopefully that will start their way back."
Before you break out those No. 40 jerseys for the second half, however, take a deep breath. Severino is at least six to seven weeks away from being able to return as a full, contributing starter in the Yankees rotation, even if he has a smooth rehab this time. The first step in a rehab throwing program for both Severino and Betances, who is also coming back from a shoulder issue that turned into a strained lat, is usually 25 throws on flat ground at 60 feet and then a day to see how the body reacts.
"Now, it's the steps of obviously getting built back up and getting into long toss and flat ground and getting on a mound obviously," Boone said. "Then you see where you are from the scheduling and the time stand point. They are in a good place to get going on this throwing program."
For both, this is the third time they have begun a throwing program. Initially, Severino was diagnosed with inflammation in his right rotator cuff. After he began throwing again, he suffered a strained (partially torn) lat muscle. After being shut down for six weeks, Severino began throwing again only to be shut down because he was not 100% healed.
GM Brian Cashman admitted that it was a mistake to have Severino, who the Yankees signed to a four-year, $40 million extension before the season, begin throwing without having an MRI on the lat to make sure it was fully healed. This time, Boone said that Severino and Betances were both given MRIs before being cleared to throw.
"I think we're confident in where they're at as far as their recovery and we feel like they are in position to be ready to start this step," Boone said. "Now their feedback and how they feel and bounce back is always a major part of the evaluation in continuing to lay out the program, but I think there is kind of a protocol now that's followed and they are in position to graduate at this point."
Considering neither have thrown a pitch in a MLB game this season, there are certainly questions about if and how they can contribute to this season.
"I haven't begun to put a timeline on it or what it's going to take to have him built up being a starter for us or any kind of option for us," Boone said.
Last week, Cashman said he was "very comfortable and confident" the Yankees will have at least an "abbreviated version" of Severino this season. That obviously implied the 25-year old could be used in the role of an opener or possibly for multiple innings out of the bullpen.
"I think there are a number of things that are potentially on the table," Boone said. "Just based on how he progresses, what he gets to and we'll see where we're at as he builds himself up."
Betances, who is a one-inning set-up man, could potentially be ready sooner since he does not need to be stretched out.
Another possible second-half helping hand is quietly making progress in Tampa. Jordan Montgomery, who was shut down for two weeks last month in his rehab from 2018 Tommy John surgery, has resumed throwing.
"He's throwing again. He threw (batting practice) the other day. He's doing well after being shut down with the shoulder," Boone said. "It wasn't much more than that. I know when he was (in New York), he expressed to me that he felt good and strong."
Boone says "it's possible" that Montgomery could return and be a contributor this season.
