TAMPA, Fla. -- After spending the better part of three years unable to stand on a mound as often as he’d like, Luis Severino arrived in camp intending to throw hard. He would announce his presence by lighting up radar guns and Statcast readings, preferably reaching the triple digits.

That resulted in a sore right arm that set off alarm bells throughout the Yankees universe, and Severino now subscribes to the idea that less can be more. Severino showcased that newfound efficiency on Saturday, firing four scoreless innings in a rain-shortened 10-0 Grapefruit League win over the Braves.

“Every time they give me the ball, that’s what I try to do -- throw hard,” Severino said. “I noticed in the last couple of days, I don’t need to throw 100, 99, 98. If I can control the zone and go 94, 95, 96 for five or six innings, that would be more safe for me, saving my arm.”

Severino said he was overthrowing in his previous spring outing (March 25), when he walked four Phillies over 1 2/3 innings and struggled with his mechanics out of the stretch position. He sought treatment for a barking arm the following day, and the club relaxed his buildup out of an abundance of caution.

“I haven’t pitched for such a long time that every time I feel something, I’m worried because I don’t know what is going to be next,” Severino said. “I’ve had so many injuries -- shoulder, elbow, groin. Every time I feel something, I go to the trainers right away to try to fix it quick.”

That layoff placed increased importance on Saturday’s performance. Though the Yanks must wait to see how Severino responds on Sunday morning, by all early indications, he passed this test with flying colors.

“He threw the ball so well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought he really focused on his delivery and being consistent with that. Everything came out well and executed. He didn’t make many mistakes. It was a really encouraging outing for him. Hopefully, onward and upward.”

Severino permitted just one hit -- an Adam Duvall double that opened the second inning -- and struck out three without issuing a walk in his 57-pitch effort (42 for strikes). Feeding Atlanta a heavy diet of fastballs (28) and sliders (23), the right-hander averaged 96.2 mph with his heater, touching 98.2 mph.

“We focused on keeping his delivery together a little bit more, staying behind pitches and controlling his lines to the plate,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “We still saw some good velo out of him, and he controlled his tempo through home plate much better. There wasn’t as much effort spinning off pitches and fighting his delivery when guys got on.”

Though the outing wasn’t enough to clear an unsightly 8.22 spring ERA (seven earned runs in 7 2/3 innings), Severino vaulted into the regular season on a much-needed positive note.

“What we had been seeing is now starting to translate into the games,” said Blake. “All his side work, he’s building on it. He’s an accomplished pitcher, so you’re not concerned about, ‘Is he going to be able to do it?’ We know what Severino looks like. It’s just a matter of him continuing to own that and repeat it.”

Severino's next assignment will be to face the Red Sox in the second game of the regular season on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

“For me, going through everything I went through, it’s more of a mind game right now,” Severino said. “I’m feeling comfortable. I know my body is good now. I know that I can control my fastball, throw all my pitches and the next day, wake up and be good. That’s the main thing for me.”