Luis Gil Has Earned The Right To Stay

Despite Gerrit Cole being on the injured list, the Yankees starting rotation has had great success this year. Starters Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, and Carlos Rodon have done a great job holding down the fort. The Yankees rotation currently leads the American League in ERA. New York also became the first rotation to pitch in at least five innings or more for 16 straight games. However, as Cole’s return nears, the Yankees have a difficult decision on who to take out of the rotation. One starter who has earned the right to stay in the rotation is Luis Gil.

Gerrit Cole Going Down Provided An Opportunity

It’s been a long road back for the Yankees 25-year-old starter. Luis Gil essentially missed two seasons due to recovering from Tommy John Surgery. He only made seven starts in the minors between 2022 and 2023. While Gil was invited to spring training, he wasn’t expected to make the team. Gil was even sent back down to the minors early in spring training. However, when Gerrit Cole went down with an elbow injury, the Yankees recalled him, and he managed to squeeze in two starts. Despite the short notice, Gil went 2-0 with an ERA of 2.53 and nine strikeouts. When spring training concluded, it was announced that Gil would be their fifth starter. The original plan was that Luis Gil would be in the Yankees starting rotation until Gerrit Cole returned. Gil would also be more than likely sent back down.

Luis Gil Has Blown Away Expectations

To say the New York Yankees got more than they bargained for is an understatement. He’s blown expectations away. So far this season, Luis Gil is 7-1 with an ERA of 1.99, 79 strikeouts, and a 0.947 WHIP which also leads the team. In nine of his eleven starts, Gil has pitched in five innings or more. All six of his appearances in May were quality starts. Luis Gil also broke the Yankees rookie record for strikeouts in a game with 14 against the Chicago White Sox. The scary thing now is that he’s just starting to trust his stuff. He is now only going to get better going forward.

He Is Stronger In Areas Where Other Starters Are Weak

Gil also is strong in areas that other Yankee starters are not. Unlike Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil has proven he can consistently pitch six innings or more. While Schmidt is having a great season as well, he’s only made it past five innings twice this year. Nestor Cortes has been a dominant starter at home. However, Cortes has an ERA of 6.26 away from Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, Gil has an ERA of 2.62 on the road. Something else Gil has done better than any other Yankee starter is keeping the ball in the ballpark. Gil has only surrendered four home runs this season.

The Yankees Shouldn’t Throw Away Lightning In A Bottle

They say a lot can happen in baseball; Luis Gil’s seemingly meteoric rise is no exception. As Luis Gil continues to trust his stuff, he’s only going to get better as the season progresses. He has shown the ability to fill in areas where other veteran starters are weak. In an organization not known for developing starting pitchers, Luis Gil has become a gem for New York in 2024. Gil’s ability to pitch deep into games will greatly benefit the bullpen during the postseason push later in the year. He not only has earned a permanent spot in the starting rotation for this season and next year as well. The Yankees have captured lightning in a bottle and would be stupid to remove Gil from the starting rotation.

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