Luis Gil Ready for Season Debut After Dominant Rehab Finish

The Yankees haven’t made it official, but all signs point to Luis Gil starting Sunday in Miami.

Gil wrapped up his final rehab outing Friday night for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, delivering a sharp line . The right-hander went 4.1 innings, three hits, one earned run, a walk, and seven strikeouts on 75 pitches. That was the target Yankees manager Aaron Boone had set earlier in the day, and Gil hit it cleanly.

Earlier Tuesday, Boone told podcasters that “if all goes well,” Gil was likely to take the ball Sunday against the Marlins. After a confident performance and smooth buildup from Double-A to Triple-A, it now appears that Gil’s long-awaited return from a spring training lat strain will be the next turn through the Yankees' rotation.

It's a huge addition.

 The Yankees right-hander went 15–7 with a 3.50 ERA over 29 starts, racking up 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings,  the second-most punchouts ever by a Yankees rookie. Gil’s swing-and-miss stuff was on full display, with a strikeout rate near 27% and a swing-and-miss rate over 35%, helping him post a 1.19 WHIP despite some early-season command questions. His breakout came in May, when he went 6–0 with a 0.70 ERA and a 14-strikeout masterpiece against the White Sox, earning him both AL Rookie and Pitcher of the Month honors. That stretch catapulted him into the spotlight and solidified his place as the Yankees’ most reliable starter during a year riddled with injuries. 

 Across five rehab appearances this month, Gil struck out 29 batters in 19 innings, shaking off rust and refining his command with each outing.

With both Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt out for the season, Gil will give the Yankees a high-upside jolt to a rotation that’s been stretched thin heading into the final days before the MLB trade deadline.

It’s possible the Yankees still add an arm before Thursday. But Sunday may offer an early glimpse at one of their most intriguing second-half wild cards.

Gil looks ready and New York may need him now more than ever.