Doctor Explains Why Yankees Were Actually Smart to Wait on Luis Severino Dye Contrast MRI

The New York Yankees announced Tuesday afternoon that starting pitcher and presumptive No. 2 Luis Severino will need Tommy John Surgery. After numerous tests throughout the offseason, the All-Star still couldn't pinpoint the injury.

With several MRIs and CT scans testing clean, it begs the question, "Why is he suddenly being sidelined?" Turns out, a dye contrast MRI finally revealed the partial UCL tear, a process that was first explored this week. So why'd it take so long for the team to get there? It makes more sense than you'd think at first blush.

Regular MRIs are highly effective, but sometimes they can't pick up smaller ligament tears (in this case, the UCL). The MRI that finally caught it, a dye contrast MRI, is highly effective but presents some specific challenges, according to Dr. Laith Jazrawi, Chief of the Division of Sports Medicine at NYU Langone Sports Health.

Speaking to NJ Advance Media, he explained how the dyes used can cause joint inflammation. Considering Severino was experiencing pain in his forearm and not his elbow, it wasn't worth the risk to test for an unlikely injury -- at least, not until other options had been exhausted.

With the test completed, Severino will need 14-to-18 months off to recover from surgery. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman stated that they'll look for replacements within the organization.