Yankees News: Luis Gil Takes On a Bigger Role Despite Ace Gerrit Cole’s Return as Season Progresses Into June

Talking about one of the best pitchers currently in the Yankees lineup, Luis Gil is a name that stands tall. The 26-year-old pitcher is in the midst of an extended stretch in MLB after being sidelined for most of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to Tommy John surgery. Currently, it appears that Gil is poised to make the All-Star game in the 2024 season. Boasting an ERA of 2.05 and 90 strikeouts in his last 13 starts, his form has continued to impress. Since May, he has been on a roll, with his last 8 starts yielding an ERA of 1.07 and a 21.1% K-BB%.

Regarding his place on the team, several reports claim that Gil will not have an innings limit imposed on him. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake clarifies the star pitcher’s status with the Yankees. During a conversation with ‘Foul Territory,’ Blake indicated that the management would be careful not to replace Gil with Cole.

“Try to find the best balance for the group,” Matt Blake said on the show. It was about the Yankees’ strategy regarding Gerrit Cole’s return. “Is it in the bullpen? Is it a timeout at some point? I don’t know if we have those answers, but taking as many steps going forward and getting as much information as possible is our best bet.” he further said. 

Despite Cole’s absence due to an elbow injury during spring training, Gil has played exceptionally well for the team. He earned Rookie of the Month and American League pitcher tags in May. More than that, he has put himself in the driving seat for the “Rookie of the Year.” award. Being cautious about Gil’s workload, Blake said, “Obviously, Luis Gil, first and foremost, hasn’t had the track record of innings over the last few years. So we have to be really mindful of his workload as we go,”

Going deep down in conversation regarding Luis Gil’s innings limit, Blake replied,” I think we’ve been pretty upfront that we’re not going to put an arbitrary innings limit on him. More so, we’re going to look at how he’s responding to the workload he’s currently managing, how his work looks like in between, what his recovery looks like in the weight room and training room [and] how his metrics are tracking as we go.” Matt Blake‘s statements clearly show that he’s aware of Luis Gil’s contributions. He’s doing everything possible to let him play future games and contribute to the Yankees’ success. 

Gerrit Cole’s return and Luis Gil’s future with the Yankees

Since Luis Gil won the final spot in the rotation after spring training, his innings limit has caught media attention. At this point, the Yankees must carefully define any innings limit for Luis Gil. However, Gil’s past with the Yankees hasn’t been kind, as management used to limit his workload in previous games. One instance was against the Minnesota Twins where despite showing his prowess and reaching the 90-pitch mark. Gil was forced to leave after the sixth innings. 

Still, Gil’s future looks bright with the backing of Matt Blake, the Yankees’ pitching coach. He has proved himself on the field and become a valuable weapon in the postseason. Seeing him enter the field as a reliever suggests that he will transition to a starting pitcher role.

Altogether, with Gerrit Cole’s return, Carlos Rodon going strong, and Luis Gil being the starting pitcher, the trio is looking commendable. As the Yankees shape their roster, they have a good depth of pitchers this season and are looking to extend their winning streak against the Royals in the next game.