This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
The Yankees optioned Gil to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
With multiple off days to begin the season, the Yankees will operate with a four-man rotation early on. Gil will be recalled once a fifth starter is needed April 11 against the Rays. The right-hander had a strong Grapefruit League showing with a 24:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Luis Gil: Heading to minors
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Gil will be optioned to the minor leagues to start the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
New York is beginning the season with a four-man rotation since a fifth starter isn't needed until April 11 in Tampa Bay, and Gil will stay stretched out in the minors rather than sticking in the majors as a bullpen piece. The right-hander missed the first four months of 2025 due to a lat strain but returned for 11 regular-season starts down the stretch, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:33 K:BB across 57 innings. Gil surrendered 10 earned runs (including six homers) with a 24:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings during spring training, so he'll begin the minor-league season with decent momentum despite the incoming demotion.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Luis Gil: Odd man out to begin season
Rotowire
Pitching coach Matt Blake said Sunday that Gil won't be in line for a starting role to begin the season while the Yankees plan to get by with a four-man rotation for the first 13 days of their schedule, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "He'd like to be a starter with us, so it's frustrating," Blake said. "But at the same time, he understands the position we're in with the way the schedule lines up for the first two weeks."
The Yankees won't need a fifth starter until April 11, so Gil would appear to be tentatively in line to make his first start of the season that day against the Rays. According to Blake, the team hasn't decided whether Gil will be sent to the minors over the first two weeks, or if he'll be used in a piggyback/long-relief role until he's needed in the rotation. After missing the first four months of the 2025 season while recovering from a lat strain, Gil went on to go 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 41:33 K:BB in 57 innings over his 11 starts with the Yankees. He's looked sharper this spring, submitting a 19:4 K:BB in 14.1 innings during the Grapefruit League.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Luis Gil: Racks up six Ks in spring start
Rotowire
Gil tossed three scoreless innings in a Grapefruit League game against Boston on Wednesday, allowing two hits and issuing two walks while striking out six batters.
Gil needed a hefty 53 pitches to complete three frames, but he got eight whiffs and racked up six punchouts. The right-hander has looked great through three spring outings, allowing two runs on six hits over eight innings while registering an 11:3 K:BB. Gil appears to be locked into an Opening Day rotation spot while Gerrit Cole (elbow), Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Clarke Schmidt (elbow) begin the season on the shelf, but he'll probably need to pitch well in order to keep that role once those injured hurlers return to action.
Yankees' Luis Gil: Fans four in first spring start
Rotowire
Gil completed 2.2 innings in a Grapefruit League start against the Mets on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks while striking out four batters.
Gil gave up a solo homer to Jared Young in the second inning but was otherwise sharp. He threw 48 pitches (33 strikes) and averaged 94.5 mph on his fastball, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Gil is essentially a lock to begin the season in the Yankees' rotation since Gerrit Cole (elbow), Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Clarke Schmidt (elbow) are all expected to begin the campaign on the injured list.
Gil and the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $2.16 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
This was Gil's first year of arbitration eligibility, and he's set to nearly triple his salary from 2025. He was sidelined for much of last season due to a lat strain, though he made 11 starts across the final two months of the campaign and should have a role in the rotation to begin the 2026 season.
Gil took the loss in Saturday's ALDS Game 1 against the Blue Jays after giving up two earned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings.
Both of the runs scored against Gil came via the long ball, as Vladimir Guerrero's first-inning homer and Alejandro Kirk's second-inning blast would prove to be all Toronto needed to ensure a victory during a 10-1 win over New York. It's unlikely that Gil makes another start during the ALDS, but because manager Aaron Boone pulled the plug on his outing after just 48 pitches, the 27-year-old righty may be available to pitch out of the bullpen within the next game or two.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Luis Gil: On ALDS roster
Rotowire
Gil is listed on the Yankees' roster for the ALDS.
Gil was left off the Yankees' active roster during the wild-card round, but he'll now officially rejoin the pitching staff ahead of his start in Game 1 on Saturday. The 27-year-old righty faced the Blue Jays once in the regular season, giving up just one earned run on three hits and four walks while striking out one batter over six innings.
The Yankees are going with Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Cam Schlittler as their three starters in the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, and they've decided against including Gil on the roster as a reliever. Will Warren is on the roster as a reliever, and either Warren or Gil could be added back to the rotation if the Yankees advance to the ALDS.
Gil didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's win against Baltimore. allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two and walking two across five innings.
The right-hander cruised early, retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced before serving up back-to-back home runs from Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson in the fourth inning. While the outing was effective overall, Gil failed to receive much run support from the offense, resulting in him missing out on the win. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year has only completed six innings in three of his 11 starts this season after making his debut Aug. 3, but he has only allowed more than two runs twice. Gil finishes the regular season with a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:33 K:BB across 57 innings.
8:52
0:36
1:05
1:40
1:08
0:58
9:27
1:36
10:07
0:45
3:11
5:02
1:47
0:26
0:29
0:35
1:13
1:37
10:06
3:05
