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Yankees' Severino ready for minor-league rehab assignment

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Luis Severino's most recent bullpen session went off without a hitch on Thursday, and the New York Yankees ace appears ready to take the next step in his recovery process.

After using his entire arsenal during the 30-pitch tune-up, Severino will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with the Tampa Tarpons - the Yankees' High-A affiliate in the Florida State League, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

The 25-year-old flamethrower suffered a shoulder injury during spring training and has subsequently been sidelined for the entirety of the 2019 campaign. Severino appeared to be on the mend in late June but suffered a setback, after which general manager Brian Cashman admitted the right-hander "never should have started his throwing program."

It remains unclear whether the Yankees will use Severino as a starter or out of the bullpen once he returns.

Despite being comfortably in first place in the American League East at 81-41, New York's rotation has been problematic.

The Yankees have relied on nine different starters to make at least one appearance - including openers Jonathan Holder and Chad Green - and their rotation owns a 4.67 ERA and 4.97 FIP, which rank sixth and 10th among AL clubs, respectively. Masahiro Tanaka is the team's only qualified starter who has authored an ERA and FIP that are better than league average, according to FanGraphs.

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