Luis Severino injury opens door for Yankees’ Jhony Brito

TAMPA — Luis Severino’s setback means an opportunity for Jhony Brito.

Brito, the 25-year-old right-hander, will start for the Yankees on Sunday against the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in what could be something of an audition to join the big league rotation while Severino is out with a lat strain.

“I think he’s done a nice job so far [this spring],” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “He throws a lot of strikes, he attacks the zone, he’s got some pitches to get [left-handed] hitters out with a good changeup. It’s a good opportunity for him.”

The Yankees added Brito to their 40-man roster this offseason after he posted a 2.96 ERA in 112 ²/₃ innings last season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Randy Vasquez, Yoendrys Gomez and Deivi Garcia are also on the 40-man roster.

But Brito is ahead of Vasquez and Gomez, and the Yankees have built Garcia up as a long reliever who could provide 2-4 innings.

Brito recorded a 3.52 ERA across 7 ²/₃ innings this spring before being optioned to Triple-A on March 11.

But he will get an unexpected chance to make another impression with Severino expected to start the season on the injured list.

“We knew we’d have to lean on some depth here at some point,” Blake said. “You weren’t necessarily hoping for the first week of the [season], but that’s alright. I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’ll follow a plan well. So I think that gives us a chance out of the gate.”

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Josh Donaldson hit his third home run in as many games, a 436-foot moonshot to left field off Aaron Nola.

Boone called the mechanical adjustment he has made to his swing “huge.”

“I’m excited for what he’s gonna do,” Boone said.

“As we get ready to head into the season, he’s where he needs to be.”

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Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis), who received a cortisone shot Tuesday that came with a 48-72-hour shutdown, had still not started throwing again as of Saturday.

He said he was waiting for the discomfort to fully clear up before he began a throwing program.

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After the game, the Yankees reassigned INF Wilmer Difo and C Rodolfo Duran to minor league camp.