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Boone: Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil to Begin Rehab Assignment
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Now that starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt needs Tommy John surgery , more than half of the New York Yankees’ starters are on the injured list. Thankfully, one of them is on the mend and should be back on the mound very soon. Interviewed on Tuesday on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday.

Boone: Luis Gil to Begin Rehab Assignment

Much Needed Reinforcements

Gil, who has been recovering from a right lat strain since February, will be a much-needed reinforcement for New York, which has now lost two of its five starters (Schmidt and Gerrit Cole) to Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old was one of New York’s best pitchers in his first full season last year, posting a 3.50 ERA with a 15-7 record and 171 strikeouts over 151 2/3 innings.

In the same interview, Boone also spoke about how Gil will be rejoining the rotation and will resume duties as a starter, rather than coming out of the bullpen. Before Clarke Schmidt went down with his season-ending injury, this question was more up in the air. But now, Gil will be joining current ace Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren as New York’s starting pitchers.

Rejoining the Rotation

The Yankees need their Rookie of the Year winner now more than ever; they’ve lost 13 out of their last 20 games and are now out of first place in the AL East for the first time since April. With one of their top pitchers almost ready to rejoin the team and get back on the mound, things aren’t looking as bleak as they were for a team that hasn’t been able to live up to its potential thanks to a flurry of key injuries.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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