Before Luis Gil toed the mound Thursday afternoon against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium, the right-hander had already tallied the third-highest inning total (49.0) of his professional career.
In a return season from Tommy John surgery combined with a lack of innings thrown over the course of his young career, it would be safe to assume that the Yankees may look to limit the 25-year-old’s innings.
However, there are currently no plans for Gil to take his foot off the gas.
“We’ll pay attention to everything and if that time comes where it’s starting to show that an innings limit happens, then so be it,” said manager Aaron Boone. “But there’s no limit that we’re putting on things.
“Now, as we go, there may be a dial-it-back in a certain outing. But, no, it’s full steam ahead.”
Gil has been a vital part of what has been one of the best pitching staffs in baseball this season (third in starter ERA at 2.91). The flamethrower owns a 2.39 ERA in nine starts striking out 11.4 batters per nine innings.
The Dominican native is coming off of arguably the best start of his career where he struck out 14 batters over 6 innings against the Chicago White Sox on May 18.
“Luis has done such a good job of [putting in work],” said Boone. “In the weight room, in the training room, the classroom. Just diving into where he can continue to improve and the proofs been in the pudding.
“He’s obviously been terrific for us going back to spring training. His talent is leaping off the screen and it’s been fun to watch him work. [He continues] to put himself in position to succeed and grow.”
The Yankee manager added that there has been a noticeable difference in the way the righty has gone about preparing for games as the season has progressed.
GOOD PROBLEMS
The Yankees staff has experienced a ton of success in the early going all without their ace and 2023 Cy Young Award winner. Gerrit Cole is due to return in the coming weeks as he progresses in his rehab which will be a very welcome addition to a team looking to end a 14-year World Series drought.
However, that may also mean the end of someone’s time in the starting rotation and with the success all five starters have seen thus far, it’s anyone’s guess as to who that could be.
“No [I don’t have a plan in mind],” Boone said. “It’s three, four, five maybe six weeks away. If at that point we’re in this position [without injuries] then that’s a good thing. We’ll do what we have to do. I think in the baseball calendar that’s still light years away.
“Hopefully we continue to get the consistent performance we’ve gotten all year out of our starters and we have to have a conversation around that. But, I still feel that’s a ways off.”
The skipper did not entirely rule out the idea of a six-man rotation.
MORE COLE PROGRESS
The Yankees’ ace is scheduled to throw another live session this weekend, Boone said. A definitive timeline to his return still remains unclear.
The right-hander has yet to appear in a game this season after an elbow injury scare that had the Yanks holding their breath in spring training. The Bombers’ 34-17 start and success within the rotation has likely done wonders as there has been no rush to bring back the Cy Young award winner.
