Luis Severino making ace case at Yankees camp

Luis Severino had a rocky beginning to the spring, giving up five runs in just over an inning of work in his first start. But he’s turned it around, and is attracting the attention of his manager and teammates.

“He’s pitched very well this spring,” Joe Girardi told reporters before Tuesday’s game against the Mets. “He’s probably pitched as well as anyone that we have.”

Severino had a strong performance against his team’s crosstown rival, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five in 4.1 IP. Before that, Severino had a 10.2 scoreless innings streak going, and had struck out 12 batters while walking none in that span.

“He’s very mature at a young age,” Girardi said. “The big thing is for him to continue to get experience and make adjustments as teams make adjustments to him. [But] when you have stuff like he does and you compete as hard as he does, you’re usually going to have success.”

C.C. Sabathia, who had great success at a young age with the Indians, praised his teammate as well.

“It’s awesome,” he said, “I think you have to give him extra points for being able to pitch in New York; I don’t know if I would have been able to handle that the way I did in Cleveland. It’s great to see.”

In other moves

A sub-par Spring Training ended on a sour note for Slade Heathcott, whom the Yankees optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old center fielder who hit .400 in 25 at-bats for the Bombers last season had just one hit in 22 at-bats this spring with nine strikeouts. He also missed the team bus last Thursday and was held out of that game as a consequence.