With Gerrit Cole out between 2-3 months with elbow inflammation, it opened a hole in the rotation for the New York Yankees going into a pivotal ‘win-now’ year. While their rotation depth continues to be a concern even with Cole healthy, one clear positive is the farm depth. Luis Gil is that positive, who will be the Yankees No. 5 starter after Cole’s injury. The 25-year-old has electric stuff and dominance on the mound. In 15 2/3 innings, he permitted five runs (2.87 ERA) and seven hits, walking six and striking out a team-leading 23.
Initially, the thought was Gil would need to build innings in the minors for the foreseeable future, and perhaps work his way into a high-leverage bullpen role. However, Gil was so good this spring he became impossible to ignore. Outpitching those considered ahead of him on the depth chart by a significant distance.
Luis Gil Named Yankees No. 5 Starter
First off, this is not the first we’ve seen of Gil. In 2021 at 23 years old, Gil was first called up and impressed overall. His first 15 innings of his major league career was scoreless with 38 strikeouts. This was the first tantalizing glimpse of the prospect.
Luis Gil’s 5Ks. pic.twitter.com/oS9Qd3V5u8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 22, 2024
He struck out just under 40% of the batters faced this spring, making it impossible to ignore what he was doing on the mound beating off stiff opposition from Beeter and Warren for the No. 5 starter job. Warren doesn’t have the upside of Gil, despite throwing five strong pitches, none of them are as elite as Gil’s one-two fastball-slider combo. If Warren can work on these pitches in the minors and up his velocity he could be a factor this season.
As for Gil, he particularly turned heads against the Philadelphia Phillies, on March 11. He earned the win while striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball. His fastball was dominant, routinely touching 99 mph on the gun with pinpoint location.
Gil’s Stuff is Electric
Gil’s stuff is electric. Full Stop. He has a nice quick delivery which plays well in the pitch clock era. He has a smooth repeteable motion, which has improved since 2021. In a flick of his wrist, he generates 100 mph, and 99 mph fastballs with ease. Gil also has a vicious slider that tops off at around 85 mph, the movement he generates on that slider is something to behold. This was his strikeout pitch of choice back in 2021. When the bottom drops out of it inside to lefties, it’s unhittable.
Gil is currently working on a changeup to go with his more established cutter, but realistically he’s a two-pitch pitcher. If he can mix in a changeup to go with the movement on his slider and 100 mph fastball, that could propel him into being an elite starter for now and in the future. He has the upside. The one issue with Gil has always been his location. Before this season and his surgery, in seven starts he had 21 walks, an average of six walks per start. His strikeout stuff was always there, averaging 11 strikeouts per start; but again, without locating his pitches, his upside is severely limited.
This is why this spring has been such a revelation. His walks have gone right down, and his location has improved markedly. He was pinpointing his pitches with expert precision where the catcher barely had to move his glove. Luis Gil earned his Yankees rotation spot by improving his location principally.
A Look at the Yankee Rotation Ahead of Opening Day
The Yankees rotation is set with Nestor Cortes to pitch on Opening Day. Followed by Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman. Rodón has had an up-and-down spring. In some starts he’s been unhittable, others eminently hittable. It seems to be the start where the left-hander attempts to establish his offspeed he’s been less successful. However, the major takeaway from his spring is his velocity and is his health. As long as he’s healthy, he should dominate and be the solid No. 2 starter.
Stroman had the best Spring of all starters, and he looks like a steal of a signing. The multiple All-Star signed a two-year team-friendly deal to pitch for his hometown team. Schmidt shined in his six shut-out innings against the Mets in his last start. He has swing-and-miss stuff and an above-average curveball. His 4.64 ERA last year was fine, but he’s hoping to take a step forward this year. His problem is he’s missing a strikeout pitch, his fastball isn’t lights out, and teams tend to hold off on swinging at the curve to force him to use his tertiary pitches. If he can take that next step Schmidt could shine.
Main Photo: © Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
