Luis Gil’s last week of the regular season may say more about the Yankees’ postseason bullpen than it does about the pitcher himself.
A year ago, Gil was viewed as too important to move. He was the AL Rookie of the Year prospect who steadied the rotation while Gerrit Cole was out for much of 2024, and when the Houston Astros asked for him as the centerpiece of a Kyle Tucker deal, the Yankees passed.
Now that decision looks a lot different. Gil got hurt soon after, and his velocity has not been the same as it was during that first full season.
That old version of Gil feels distant now, but the Yankees still have a chance to get something useful out of him before October. With Ryan Weathers injured, Clarke Schmidt dealing with a scare this past week, and Brent Headrick’s velocity dropping sharply over the weekend, the bullpen has more questions than answers. So with one week left, the club should treat Gil like a live test.
For now, the Yankees have mostly kept him in lower-leverage work. He has appeared only five times in the last month, though Boone turned to him twice in the most recent series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
That usage could mean the Yankees are giving Gil one final shot to show he belongs in a bigger spot. It might also mean they simply need him there.
If the Yankees want to know what Gil can handle, the next step is obvious: put him in medium- or high-leverage innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. If he can get through those spots, they’ll at least know he can be trusted in that role. If he can’t, they’ll know not to ask him to do it in the postseason.
That’s the value of finding out now, when the games don’t affect the standings and the playoff field is already set. The Rays probably aren’t going to lose seven straight and suddenly hand over the division anyway.
There are a few signs that Gil has at least flashed something encouraging. His fastball has ticked up.
He averaged 95.4 MPH on the pitch this season, and since being called up on August 31st, that number has climbed to 96.1 MPH. His slider has gained a little too, sitting at 87.1 MPH since the call-up after averaging 85.8 MPH this season.
The results have been a little better as well, at least in the small sample. Since returning, Gil has thrown six innings, struck out eight, walked three, and allowed one earned run, which came in his first start back.
Still, the Yankees are waiting to see whether his arm can get back to where it once was. He might never reach that level again, and with the rotation as crowded as it is, the most realistic path for him in New York is probably the bullpen. Even so, this final week matters.
If Gil can miss bats and get outs now, the Yankees at least walk into October with a little more clarity. If not, they’ll know exactly what not to do when the games get bigger.
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The scheduled season finale the next day never got played, with rain and unplayable field conditions bringing the curtain down early on the RailRiders era. The franchise is set to rebrand for the 2027 season, which means the Yankees' top minor league stop has now closed one chapter before the next one officially begins. [Read more 🡒]