March 11 was a gloomy day for the New York Yankees as news surfaced that 33-year-old reigning AL Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole was suffering from an ailing right pitching elbow. The season hadn’t even begun, but despair had already set in. Questions loomed: Who would anchor the rotation in Cole’s absence? Would he return this season at all?
On June 4, we got some clarity during the Yankee’s decisive 5-1 victory of the Minnesota Twins. The Yanks cruised behind another stellar performance from rookie Luis Gil. Gil – who is 144 days older than teammate and MVP candidate Juan Soto – improved to 8-1 with a remarkable 1.82 ERA. He has now won seven straight games and is on pace to strike out over 220 batters this season.
A day after being named AL Rookie and Pitcher of the Month for May, Gil allowed only a double to Christian Vazquez with one out in the third inning. The 26-year-old, returning from his own elbow injury after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of 2022 and most of 2023, has brought much-needed stability to the starting rotation. This has allowed other pitchers to slot into more natural positions and pitch to their strengths.
Gils’ electric stuff on the mound is turning heads. He can strike batters out with a 99 mph heater or a 93 mph changeup, displaying the poise and confidence of a seasoned veteran. He’s exactly the type of pitcher and player New Yorkers love.