Luis Gil injury: Yankees' Rookie of the Year pitcher shut down, scheduled for MRI
TAMPA, Fla. – Luis Gil stopped his bullpen session Friday, due to tightness in his shoulder area.
Suddenly, right-hander Marcus Stroman – an expensive insurance policy until now – is in play as a rotation replacement, though Gil’s status is not-yet determined.
Headed for an MRI here on Saturday, Gil “just felt tight, wasn’t able to really let it go’’ during Friday’s bullpen session, according to manager Aaron Boone.
“When a pitcher stops his bullpen, that’s concerning,’’ said Boone. “But I also don’t want to get too far ahead. We’ll see what we have.’’
Boone indicated that Gil’s discomfort was in the shoulder area, not the elbow or forearm.
The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, Gil was due to pitch to live batters on Saturday; he had yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this spring training.
"He's extremely talented and pulled a lot of weight for us (in 2024),'' said Gerrit Cole. "We're hoping he's all right.''
How Luis Gil injury affects Marcus Stroman
Stroman is due to make his third exhibition start on Sunday, against the Atlanta Braves, and he’s looked sharp this spring.
Until now, Stroman has been outside a five-man rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt.
“You know you’re going to face some attrition somewhere. Hopefully (Gil’s issue is) not something too serious,’’ said Boone. “But, also, it feels like something that’s going to cost us some time.’’
Stroman, 33, had been the subject of trade talk, which increased after the Yankees signed Fried to a $218 million free agent contract.
But Stroman’s contract has been a deterrent; he will earn $18 million this season, with an $18 million vesting option for 2026 if he reaches 140 innings in 2025.
Without a guarantee of being in the Yanks’ rotation upon arrival at camp (participating two days after the first official workout day, as per his collectively bargained rights), Stroman declared he was a starter and would not pitch in relief.
Boone and GM Brian Cashman publicly empathized with Stroman’s situation, suggesting that such things usually work out via staff injuries or trades.
The Yankees’ current starting pitching depth includes Will Warren, non-roster veteran Carlos Carrasco and Yoendrys Gomez, who is out of minor league options and could make the club as a reliever.
In 2024, Gil, 26, pitched a career high 159.2 innings (including postseason), posting a 15-7 record and 3.50 ERA in 29 starts.
His innings workload was something to watch last year, with Gil essentially coming off two lost seasons due to Tommy John (reconstructive elbow) surgery in May 2022.
Gerrit Cole's impressive 2025 exhibition debut
Due to a low pitch count, Gerrit Cole surprised himself by going out for a fourth inning in Friday night's 2025 exhibition debut, a 6-3 Yankees win against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field.
This was Cole's fifth time facing hitters this spring, and "I really like where I'm at,'' said the ace, who yielded one run on three hits, with zero walks and five strikeouts.
Cole was also pleased by the feel, location and movement of his changeup, which could become a bigger pitch for him in 2025. "It's like a long road to mastery with that pitch, for me,'' said Cole.
Leading off the game, Cole struck out Joey Loperfido on a 1-and-2 changeup. Cole also got three swinging strikeouts on sinkers and one on a 95-mph fastball.
Catcher Austin Wells was impressed, calling for Cole's changeup and watching him "throw it for a strike and also get some chase on it. And it helped his other pitches play up, too.''
Wells and Cody Bellinger homered for the Yankees in Friday's first inning. Wells is a candidate to bat leadoff against right-handed pitching, per Boone.
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