{"id":72000,"date":"2025-06-22T08:17:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T08:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=72000"},"modified":"2025-06-22T08:17:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T08:17:08","slug":"yankees-injured-star-finally-faces-hitters-again-projects-to-be-a-deadline-add","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=72000","title":{"rendered":"Yankees’ injured star finally faces hitters again, projects to be a ‘deadline add’"},"content":{"rendered":"
As the New York Yankees continue spiraling\u2014dropping seven of their last eight games\u2014any glimpse of good news feels like a lifeline.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, that lifeline arrived in the form of Luis Gil, who faced live hitters for the first time since February.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Gil has been sidelined since spring training with a significant lat strain, casting a shadow over a promising 2025 season.<\/p>\n
But now, finally, the 27-year-old righty is starting to turn the corner in his rehab, and the Yankees should be paying close attention.<\/p>\nCredit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Velocity Looks Sharp as Gil Returns to the Mound<\/h2>\n
Though the session wasn\u2019t against big-league hitters, Gil\u2019s return still marked real progress in his rehab journey.<\/p>\n
Facing bullpen catcher Peter Serruto and staffer Ryan McLaughlin, Gil showed no signs of tentativeness in his delivery.<\/p>\n
More importantly, his velocity hovered in the mid-90s, a key indicator that his arm strength is trending in the right direction.<\/p>\n
For reference, he averaged 96.6 mph on his fastball last year, so he is not far off.<\/p>\n
Yankees insider Bryan Hoch noted this detail, suggesting Gil\u2019s physical tools may be intact even after a long layoff.<\/p>\n
When a pitcher returns from an upper-body injury, velocity readings are often the first sign of how real the comeback could be.<\/p>\n
Gil\u2019s heater has always been electric, but seeing it resurface this quickly is a big box checked for New York.<\/p>\n
A Lengthy Road Still Awaits Before MLB Return<\/h2>\n
While Saturday was a big step, fans hoping for an immediate return should temper their expectations\u2014it\u2019s going to take time.<\/p>\n
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Gil will need multiple live BP sessions followed by a multi-week rehab assignment.<\/p>\n
That means building arm strength, command, and stamina, all over again\u2014likely pushing his MLB return into late July or August.<\/p>\n
In other words, this won\u2019t be a sprint. Think of it more like assembling a puzzle\u2014piece by piece, until he\u2019s fully ready.<\/p>\n
But when that day does arrive, it could feel like the Yankees just made a major trade deadline acquisition without giving up anything.<\/p>\nCredit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Boone Sees Gil as a \u201cDeadline Addition\u201d<\/h2>\n
Boone himself said Luis Gil\u2019s return might resemble a \u201ctrade deadline add,\u201d which caused a few groans among fans online.<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Yankees fans have learned to be wary of that phrase\u2014often code for front-office inactivity come late July.<\/p>\n
Still, Gil\u2019s upside might be one of the few reasons to buy into Boone\u2019s metaphor this time around.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t a fringe arm we\u2019re talking about. Luis Gil is the reigning American League Rookie of the Year for a reason.<\/p>\n
Gil Brings Firepower\u2014and Needed Stability\u2014to the Rotation<\/h2>\n
In 2024, Luis Gil dazzled with a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts across 144 innings, combining elite stuff with growing maturity.<\/p>\n
His fastball rides high, his slider bites late, and his poise on the mound is rare for a pitcher with so few innings under his belt.<\/p>\n
He gives New York something it currently lacks\u2014an explosive yet dependable No. 3 option behind Max Fried and Carlos Rod\u00f3n.<\/p>\n
The Yankees\u2019 rotation is thirsting for consistency in the middle tier.<\/p>\n
Adding Gil would feel like plugging a hole in a leaky ship just as the storm is brewing\u2014a stabilizer at a critical time.<\/p>\n
Yankees Need Gil Now More Than Ever<\/h2>\n
The Yankees are drifting, and the longer they wait for reinforcements, the more pressure mounts on an overworked bullpen.<\/p>\n
Gil\u2019s looming return doesn\u2019t solve every problem, but it could re-energize a roster that looks increasingly out of answers.<\/p>\n
In a way, he\u2019s the team\u2019s wildcard\u2014an arm with the ability to flip momentum and change the season\u2019s trajectory.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not just a rehab update anymore; Luis Gil is becoming a symbol of what the Yankees could<\/em> be again.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Yankees\u2019 young first baseman returns to leadoff spot, veteran sluggers get day off vs. O\u2019s on Saturday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yankees pitcher Luis Gil takes a key step in his comeback from injury, offering hope as a potential second-half difference-maker<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":72001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
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