The Yankees placed right‑hander Jonathan Loaisiga on the 15‑day injured list Sunday with right mid‑back soreness. It’s a move that cleared the way for Luis Gil’s long‑awaited 2025 season debut, also on Sunday in Miami.
The move raises some red flags. Loaisiga, whom the Yankees signed to a $5 million deal this winter, has struggled this season.
In 29.2 innings of relief work, he posted a 4.25 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, just 25 strikeouts and 10 walks That’s a far cry from his elite form in earlier seasons before he had Tommy John surgery. Over the past month, his ERA flirted with 5.23, and his WHIP remained elevated. The Yankees had not only given him the one-year deal but also added a club option for 2026, banking on a rebound.
Loaisiga had just returned from a UCL repair and internal brace procedure in April 2024. He was activated May 16 to provide bullpen depth following a 13‑month rehab. Despite that comeback, recurring health setbacks and uneven results made his hold on a roster spot tenuous.
With Loaisiga headed to the IL, the Yankees were able to easily activate Luis Gil off the 60-day injured list and allow him to make his first start of the 2025 MLB season.
The reigning AL Rookie of the Year. Gil, sidelined since spring training with a high‑grade lat strain, threw 75 pitches in his final Triple‑A rehab outing and is expected to debut against the Marlins Sunday afternoon.
Gil’s return injects immediate rotation stability, at least the Yankees hope.
After losing Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to long‑term injuries, and seeing inconsistent results from starters like Cam Schlittler, the Yankees badly need his power arm. Pitching coach Matt Blake called Gil’s rehab “smooth,” and manager Aaron Boone sees this as a turning point for their rotation.
Gil brings youth and upside. Loaisiga’s back issue may just be another setback, or a chance for him to work on some issues away from the spotlight. It pushes back one of the many tough roster decisions the Yankees face in the coming weeks.
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