Meeting Royal Family a 'neat moment' for Yanks

LONDON -- The Yankees have been treated like royalty since their arrival for the London Series, and they had the opportunity to experience the real thing when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited their clubhouse prior to Saturday's 17-13 victory over the Red Sox.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex greeted both teams as they prepared to play the first Major League game in the United Kingdom.

"It was a really neat moment for me and our players and everyone with us," manager Aaron Boone said. "When they came in, they were very gracious and I think put everyone at ease. To get to spend a few minutes with them and take pictures with them I think is something that we’ll all take away, because that was a pretty neat experience."

After the Red Sox presented the royal couple with a red onesie and a baseball bat for their 1-month-old son, Archie, the Yankees one-upped the gift by presenting them with an infant-sized pinstriped jersey that had “ARCHIE 19” embroidered on the back.

"You guys have beaten next door's present, by the way," Prince Harry told the team.

Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius said that Prince Harry offered a challenge for the London Series.

"He said if we win, he's going to let the baby wear the shirt," Gregorius said. "I hope he remembers that."

There was a light-hearted moment as each player introduced himself. Boone shook hands and offered his name, followed by outfielder Aaron Hicks, to which Prince Harry said: "Is everyone named Aaron here?"

At that point, Aaron Judge approached and gave his name, drawing laughter from everyone in the room.

"It was great to get a chance to meet him," Judge said. "He wished us best of luck. It was a pretty cool moment."

The royals were on the mound for the ceremonial first pitch, thrown in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation. CC Sabathia and Chris Sale joined the group, with Sabathia calling it "a first pitch to remember."

"I thought that was pretty exciting," Brett Gardner said. "All the guys in here were excited to meet them. It was fun to spend a couple of minutes and get a team picture with them. It was great."

Severino didn't have MRI

As the Yankees continue to wait on Luis Severino and his troublesome right lat injury, Brian Cashman said on Sunday that the right-hander did not undergo an MRI exam prior to beginning a throwing program, which the general manager believes in hindsight should have happened.

Severino has been shut down for approximately five to seven days due to soreness in the area. Cashman said that Severino is about 90 percent healed, and the hurler will undergo an MRI within the next week to determine if he is completely healed before resuming his throwing program.

"In hindsight, clearly an MRI probably would have been warranted," Cashman said. "He doesn't like going in the MRI tube. It's something I know he would have pushed back on. If we could turn the clock back, we would have done an MRI."

Cashman said that typically MRIs are not ordered before a return to action, but in this case it may have offered a red flag. Severino had been throwing for about two weeks, advancing to distances of 105 feet, but was ultimately unable to return to the mound.

Severino has not appeared in a big league game this year due to injuries, beginning with inflammation in his right rotator cuff during Spring Training, but Cashman said that Severino had passed all of his most recent physical testing and was "strong."

"We do expect Sevy back at some point," Cashman said. "Obviously it's taken longer than any of us would have hoped. We do expect him back. Lats are tricky."

Use the force

One day after being forced to exit with what he described as lower left abdominal tightness, Luke Voit took batting practice and worked out at first base. He was not expected to play in Sunday's finale of the London Series, but manager Aaron Boone said that Voit could be available if necessary.

"We’re pretty encouraged by how he came in today," Boone said.

Keep in touch

Cashman said that he continues to search for pitching, both starters and relievers, as the July 31 Trade Deadline approaches. Those efforts have not been impacted by the London trip, he said.

"I've stayed engaged since I've been over here," Cashman said. "After the off-day, I couldn't sleep, it was 1:30 in the morning and I was texting with various GMs. They were like, 'Aren't you in London?' I was like, 'Yeah, but I can't sleep.'

"Then [Saturday] night, after we scored six, I was like, 'All right, I've got some time to ease in, let me fire off some texts to clubs.' Then I'm like, 'Oh, now they're going to perceive this as I need pitching because I just gave up six.' I don't want to miss any time, even though we're on a whole other continent."

New hire

The Yankees have hired Sam Briend, formerly of Driveline, as the club's new director of pitching development. Cashman said that Briend was recommended by senior director of player development Kevin Reese and will take over the organization's pitching program at the Minor League level.

"As we continue to find higher ground and acquire talent on the playing side, we're also trying to add to our coaching side," Cashman said. "He's obviously been schooled and versed in all the new-world training practices. We're looking forward to having him lead the charge in our pitching development as we move forward."

This date in Yankees history

June 30, 1961: Whitey Ford ran his June record to 8-0 in eight starts with a complete-game 5-1 victory over Washington, becoming the first American League pitcher to win eight games in a month.