4 takeaways from Luis Severino’s fast start with the Mets

A turning point for Luis Severino in his first month with the New York Mets occurred in Cincinnati on April 6 after he issued a bases-loaded walk. Following the free pass, he told catcher Omar Narváez that they should rely on his four-seam fastball.

The pitch carried some zip. Severino threw four pitches, all four-seamers, each one a tick faster than the last. The last one clocked in at 98.4 mph to get Will Benson swinging and end a troublesome inning. Afterward, Severino screamed.

Since surrendering that walk, Severino has allowed one earned run, seven hits and seven walks with 13 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. For the season (four starts, 21 innings), Severino owns a 2.14 ERA. The right-hander, who formerly spent his entire career with the New York Yankees, is coming off his best outing with the Mets and will start on Tuesday.

Here’s more on Severino’s encouraging start.

1. Why the Mets?

Severino valued fit over money.

Yes, all players want to get paid, and Severino was no different. But he signed early — he agreed with the Mets on Nov. 29 — in what turned out to be a good market for several pitchers. Severino received $13 million plus another possible $2 million through incentives for 2024. Similar pitchers either coming off injury or poor performance, earned a bit more.

Luis Severino, 97mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/zX4yo4gt8D

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2024

Severino said he had no illusions of receiving much more money than he got, considering his recent history. And he said he didn’t mind leaving an extra couple million on the table — there’s no guarantee he would’ve gotten more if he waited — if it meant signing with the right team.

In 2024, Severino wants to remind people of how talented he is. And to do that, he said, he had to find a club capable of helping him.

“I didn’t want to go to a team just to go to a team,” Severino said. “I wanted to go to a team to get better.”

2. Familiar faces, a key new one

Familiarity has helped Severino, but so has someone new to him.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t attend Severino’s initial video call with the Mets’ brass. Mendoza, who had a flight at the same time, didn’t have to. He spoke to Severino before and after the meeting. The two have known each other for several years, dating to their time together in the Yankees’ minor leagues. Severino said he likes Mendoza’s open communication and knows what to expect from the manager.

The hiring of bullpen coach Jose Rosado jumped out to Severino as a plus. Rosado, who formerly worked in the Yankees’ minor leagues, was one of Severino’s first coaches that he gravitated toward in professional baseball. The two kept in touch so much that Severino leaned on Rosado, who was working in Korea at the time, as a sounding board last year when he struggled.

For all the sameness Severino has seen with the Mets, someone new has also made a difference: pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

During free agency, Severino reached out to Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas, once the Mets’ manager, to inquire about Hefner. Rojas told Severino, essentially, that Hefner is a great guy and a great coach who was gearing up to utilize more technology.

Hefner and Severino quickly built a relationship after Hefner visited the pitcher in December. Hefner has been instrumental in helping Severino get more out of his fastball.

3. New pitches, a better fastball

People who have known Severino for years see a player more invested in preparation.

Severino usually starts throwing in late January. Ahead of this season, he got going in December.

Severino went to Arizona to throw earlier than ever because he had much to work on. He wanted to address a tipping issue, fine-tune mechanics, get more ride on his fastball and work on new wrinkles.

Severino severed his slider in favor of a sweeper and cutter, with the latter giving him a particular weapon against left-handed batters. Velocity has never been an issue for Severino’s fastball, but he’s getting more ride and movement on the pitch, helping distinguish it from his firm breaking stuff. As for the tipping problem, Severino said he hasn’t heard from staffers or teammates about it being an issue this season.

4. Back home

Severino loves New York.

The city isn’t for everyone, but Severino said he appreciates the fans and media holding him accountable. Perhaps that’s not surprising from someone who last year, at rock bottom, bluntly described himself as “the worst pitcher in the world right now.” For Severino, it’s simple. When he pitches well, he’d like to be cheered. And when he doesn’t, he expects the boos.

“That doesn’t get to me,” Severino said. “I want to be in a place where there’s a lot of media, a lot of attention, a lot of fans, and when you’re not doing good, you’re not doing good — they’re not going to sugarcoat you. That motivates me to get better.”

(Photo of Luis Severino: Brad Penner / USA Today)