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Yankees Rookie of the Year Scheduled to Begin Rehab

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 12:40 PM ET

Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed on "Talkin’ Yanks" Tuesday that ace right-hander Luis Gil is finally heading out on a rehab assignment this Sunday, clearing a major hurdle in his recovery from a high-grade lat strain.

Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, hasn’t pitched in a game all season after the strain sidelined him in spring training. He’s since progressed through structured throwing programs with pitching coach Matt Blake saying on Sunday he was ready for his rehab assignment.

Blake said that Gil was scheduled for a live batting practice on Tuesday.

Boone also confirmed Gil is being built back up as a starter

A return to the Yankees’ rotation would then likely be right around the trade deadline. It’s a boost they badly need after Clarke Schmidt went down for the year last week. The Yankees are also without 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole for the year and Ryan Yarbrough, who had filled in the fifth spot, is on the injured list with an oblique injury.

Wednesday night, the Yankees are turning to top prospect Cam Schlittler to make a start and bolster the beleaguered rotation.

Gil put together a stellar rookie season 2024, earning the American League Rookie of the Year award. In 29 starts, he posted an impressive 15–7 record with a 3.50 ERA, racking up 171 strikeouts over 151⅔ innings, and held hitters to a stingy .189 batting average. His May dominance—sweeping both AL Rookie and Pitcher of the Month honors—peaked with a franchise-record 14 strikeouts in a single game for a Yankees rookie. Gil became the first Yankees pitcher since Dave Righetti in 1981 to claim Rookie of the Year, narrowly edging Baltimore’s Colton Cowser in voting

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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