Yankees Get Encouraging Sign From Luis Gil’s First Rehab Start

For the first time this season, Luis Gil was back on the mound. And for a New York Yankees team dealing with rotation chaos, the start of his rehab assignment couldn’t come soon enough. 

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year made his first rehab start Sunday for Double-A Somerset. He went 3 1/3 innings, gave up one run on two hits and a walk, and struck out six. His first pitch of the day clocked in at 96 miles an hour.

The only real damage came when New Hampshire’s Charles McAdoo homered to lead off the fourth. Still, Gil looked sharp. He threw 50 pitches, 36 for strikes, and showed signs of the power stuff that made him such a breakout last season.

Gil was shut down early in spring training with a lat strain. The Yankees hope to get him back around the time of the trade deadline. He has 30 days from the start of his rehab clock to be added to the big league roster, barring an injury setback. 

This comes at a time when the Yankees are desperate for reinforcements.

Clarke Schmidt is done for the year. So is Gerrit Cole. Will Warren is having a typically inconsistent rookie season and Marcus Stroman is a wild card. 

The Yankees don’t need him to dominate right away. They just need him to be healthy and close to form. If this first rehab outing is any indication, Gil could be ready to help in August.