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Yankees Make Unfortunate Announcement on Pitcher Luis Gil

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 12:55 PM ET

The New York Yankees expect to be without Luis Gil for three months, general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters Thursday. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year underwent testing and received a second opinion after being diagnosed with a strained lat earlier in the week.

The results were the same, which was the best news the Yankees could have hoped for. With Gil shutting down from throwing for six weeks, he must restart the spring training process. The general belief is that a pitcher requires six weeks to ramp up for a season, and Gil's ramp-up will likely take longer as the team is cautious with an injured player.

Cashman told reporters the team hopes to have Gil back "sometime in the summer.”

Gil, 26, was expected to be a major part of the Yankees' 2025 rotation. Behind ace Gerrit Cole and left-hander Max Fried, Gil had the potential to be dominant. He was coming off a season where he won AL Rookie of the Year honors.

It's a significant blow to a Yankees rotation projected to be the team's biggest strength.

The injury increases the likelihood that Marcus Stroman, who was on the trading block all winter, will get his chance to start. The Yankees also have Will Warren, who has impressed them this spring. With minor league options remaining, Warren will likely begin the season in Triple-A while Stroman fills the rotation spot.

Gil has battled injuries before, including Tommy John surgery that cost him most of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Last season, he went 5-7 with a 3.50 ERA, striking out 171 over 151 2/3 innings while issuing 77 walks.

The Yankees did not expect that level of production from Gil, who spent all of 2023 recovering from elbow surgery. During the 2024 spring training, he was even sent to minor league camp in the first round of roster cuts.

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

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