The New York Yankees won't call it a setback, but Luis Gil will not start his throwing program this week as originally announced. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday that the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year will have to wait at least another 10 days before testing his arm.
Boone insisted the change wasn't the result of a new injury or a true setback.
"Yes, it's going fine," Boone said. "We just think we need another 10 days. So, he'll probably start in about 10 days. It's just the level of healing. It's got to get , I don't know, to 80 percent. There are checkmarks before you start the throwing program. So, it's going how it should. We just need another 10 days."
Still, that's not great news for a rotation with the worst ERA in baseball.
Gil has been sidelined since late February, when he experienced tightness in his shoulder during a bullpen session. He was later diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain and received a platelet-rich plasma injection on March 6. At the time, the Yankees were optimistic Gil would return around June.
This makes the timeline less certain.
Boone maintained that the Yankees are simply being cautious and still believe Gil will make an impact this season.
The delay adds another layer of concern for a Yankees rotation that continues to deal with injuries and struggles. With Gerrit Cole out for the year and Marcus Stroman now having to work his way back from a knee issue, the Yankees were hoping Gil could return midseason to provide a boost.
Now that help is further away.
Gil was one of the Yankees' brightest surprises last year, posting a 2.95 ERA across 138 innings and earning Rookie of the Year honors. His mix of velocity and swing-and-miss stuff made him a breakout arm in the Yankees' youth movement.
That news came hours before Clark Schmidt made his 2025 season debut. Schmidt missed the start of the season with shoulder fatigue.
