TAMPA — Like most people on the major league side of camp with the Yankees, Luis Severino hasn’t even seen Albert Abreu throw a pitch yet.
Still, Severino is already intrigued by the 22-year-old who some believe could make an impact on the rotation as soon as this season.
“I’ve heard a lot about him,” Severino said. “I’m really excited to see what he can do. He can throw hard and does a lot of things similar to me when I was his age.”
One thing Abreu has had difficulty with of late is staying healthy. He was limited to 14 games between Class-A Charleston and Tampa last season by shoulder and elbow woes and has yet to throw in camp this spring because he’s recovering from a bout with appendicitis.
The right-hander hopes to resume baseball activity by the end of the week so that his season isn’t affected by the setback, but he’s been able to open quite a few eyes since he came to the Yankees in the trade that sent Brian McCann to Houston following the 2016 season.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild has only seen Abreu on film and downplayed the comparisons to Severino, but Abreu and the Yankees wouldn’t mind the same career trajectory for a pitcher who figures to start at Tampa or Double-A Trenton.
He pitched well at Charleston and had a 4.19 ERA in nine starts with Tampa.
In part because of his injury-shortened 2017 season, Abreu went to the Arizona Fall League and was at times dominant but inconsistent.
“It’s a different league out there,” Abreu said through an interpreter as he waits to begin his first major league camp. “There’s a lot of talent. To go there and compete against those players gives you confidence to come here and hopefully do the same thing against big league players.”
Severino would be a good role model.
He started 2014 in with Class-A Tampa and was in The Bronx by August of the following season at 21 and quickly became a sensation.
“To see a guy like Severino go through the minors so quick gives you confidence and hope that you have the opportunity to do the same,’’ Abreu said.
Severino’s path was not without significant potholes, as he ended up back in the minors during part of a mostly disastrous 2016.
But he rebounded and pitched well out of the bullpen in the latter part of that season and emerged as a Cy Young contender last year.
Severino said he hasn’t talked to Abreu much about pitching yet, since he hasn’t seen him on the mound, but he already has begun taking him under his wing.
“We don’t talk about baseball,” Severino said. “It’s mostly life off the field, like going to buy a car.”
But he expects to lend some advice when he is able to see Abreu pitch.
“I want to see how he is mentally on the mound and what he does against batters,” Severino said. “Then I’ll be able to help him more.”