Yankees’ Luis Gil Faces Lengthy Recovery After Shoulder Injury
TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees are facing a significant setback as their starting pitcher, Luis Gil, has been diagnosed with a high-grade lat strain in his right shoulder. This unfortunate development means Gil will be sidelined for at least a couple of months, leaving the Yankees to adjust their rotation plans as the new season approaches.
Manager Aaron Boone, speaking before Monday’s spring training game against Pittsburgh, refrained from providing a specific timeline for Gil’s return. However, he did confirm that Gil won’t be throwing for at least six weeks. After this period, Gil will need to undergo a comprehensive rebuilding process to regain his form and fitness.
With Gil’s absence, the Yankees are likely to turn to Marcus Stroman as the team’s fifth starter. Stroman, who entered camp as a potential odd man out in the rotation, had expressed his reluctance to move to the bullpen. The Yankees also have veteran pitcher Carlos Carrasco in camp as a non-roster invitee, along with young talents Will Warren and Brent Headrick on their 40-man roster.
Boone acknowledged the inevitability of injuries in baseball, stating, “You know these things are going to unfortunately come and pop up. They do at different times of the year. Hopefully, overall, you can stay fairly healthy, but unfortunately these things are inevitable, and that’s why … every team tries to build in some depth. We feel like we’re in a good spot with who we have. It’s part of it.”
Gil, who was named the American League Rookie of the Year, experienced shoulder tightness during a bullpen session on Friday. An MRI over the weekend revealed the strain, and further examination is still needed. The Yankees hope that Gil, 26, will return in the first half of the season, but the exact timeline remains uncertain. Fellow starter Clarke Schmidt had a similar lat strain last year, which kept him out for about three and a half months, from late May to early September.
Despite the setback, the Yankees can draw optimism from last spring when their ace, Gerrit Cole, missed the first two and a half months with nerve irritation and edema in his pitching elbow. The rest of the rotation stepped up admirably, posting a 3.47 ERA through the end of June and playing a crucial role in the Yankees’ AL East victory. Now, Cole, Stroman, Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, and newcomer Max Fried must rise to the occasion once again.
Stroman expressed his disappointment after his Grapefruit League start against the Atlanta Braves, where he allowed four runs and recorded eight outs. “It sucks, man; I don’t even know what to say to put it into words,” Stroman said. “He was a huge part of this team last year. Incredible, incredible season, and we’re gonna need him. We’re gonna need him at some point in order to go where we want.”
Gil’s journey to this point has been challenging. He spent most of the 2022 and 2023 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he made a remarkable comeback, securing a spot in the rotation and delivering a sensational 2024 season. Gil went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 151 2/3 innings, striking out 171 batters. Notably, he walked 12.1% of the hitters he faced, the highest among those with at least 150 innings.
The significant workload increase for Gil, who hadn’t previously reached 110 innings in pro ball, was a notable factor as he pitched for a team that reached the World Series. Boone commented on whether the innings jump contributed to the injury, saying, “It’s tough to say. It’s pitching. Different things crop up. It’s why we put so much value in what these guys do in their throwing programs and when they start, and we’re methodical in how they go about it. I feel like we’ve started to turn a corner there, but it’s certainly one of the things that is troubling in our game.”
- Yankees’ rotation depth will be tested.
- Marcus Stroman likely to step up as fifth starter.
- Gil’s injury timeline remains uncertain.
- Yankees’ past resilience offers hope for the future.
Originally Written by: Alden Gonzalez
