Yankees’ Luis Severino has encouraging first rehab outing

MOOSIC, Pa. — Edwin Encarnacion said he told Luis Severino he expected the Yankees ace’s fastball to hit just 92 or 93 mph on Sunday.

Severino was making his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — and pitching in his first game since October — so Encarnacion figured it would take some time for the 25-year-old righty to get going again.

Severino did touch 93 mph once. Everything else was faster.

Severino got the start and pitched one-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits, including a home run by the last batter he faced. He walked none and struck out two. His fastball sat between 94-96 mph and he also worked in his slider and changeup.

“First time he’s thrown in a game and he looked good,” said Encarnacion, who was also making his first rehab appearance and went 1-for-4 with an RBI. “His velocity is there.”

Before Sunday, Severino last pitched in the American League Division Series on Oct. 8 against the Red Sox. He was hurt in spring training and landed on the injured list with rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder and a Grade 2 lat strain that has kept him out the entire season.

https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/1168209531068923904

His first pitch back was a 94 mph fastball that missed up and away to Buffalo’s Anthony Alford, but four fastballs later — registering 94, 95, 95 and 96 mph on the radar gun — he had his first strikeout.

“I’d be excited if I came out after five months and was pumping 96, so I’m sure he’s not too displeased with it,” said SWB veteran catcher Erik Kratz.

According to the SWB media relations staff, Severino declined to talk to the media when asked both before the game and after his outing. He left the clubhouse before the game ended.

Severino threw 33 pitches, 20 for strikes and got six swings and misses. The second batter of the game, Socrates Brito, banged a changeup off the wall in center field for a double, then Richard Urena softly poked a slider through a shifted infield. After a sacrifice fly, Severino’s second strikeout limited the damage to one first-inning run. Andy Burns turned around a 96 mph fastball for a home run to start the second that also ended Severino’s afternoon. RailRiders manager Jay Bell said Severino threw 10-15 more pitches in the bullpen after he left the game.

“It’s just a matter of command for me now, more than anything else,” Bell said. “I was pretty impressed with the way the way the ball came out of his hand.”

Encarnacion, who landed on the injured list Aug. 3 with a right wrist fracture after being hit by a pitch, served as the DH Sunday and fought off a pitch from former Mets pitching prospect Anthony Kay for single in his first at-bat. He also reached base in the second inning when he was hit by Kay’s down-and-in breaking ball. He said his wrist felt “100 percent.”

“Felt great,” Encarnacion said. “No problem swinging. Just all about timing now.”

Encarnacion is scheduled to play nine innings at first base for SWB on Monday, the last day of the regular season for the minor league club.