On Monday morning, MLB Network announced that Luis Gil, pitcher for the New York Yankees, has been honored with two prestigious awards for his outstanding performance in May. The young right-hander has been named both the American League Pitcher of the Month and the American League Rookie of the Month. This makes Luis Gil the first Yankees pitcher to receive the Pitcher of the Month award since Gerrit Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, won it in April of the previous year.
Luis Gil’s accomplishment is particularly noteworthy, as he becomes only the fifth pitcher in MLB history and the fourth in the American League to win both the Pitcher of the Month and Rookie of the Month awards in the same month. He joins an elite group of players who have achieved this feat, including Matt Shoemaker of the Angels (August 2014), Chris Archer of the Rays (July 2013), Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays (May 2011), and Dontrelle Willis of the Marlins (June 2003).
During his six starts in May, Luis Gil was nothing short of dominant. He remained unbeaten, posting a perfect 6-0 record with an impressive 0.70 ERA, allowing only three earned runs over 38.2 innings pitched. The right-hander surrendered just 14 hits and 12 walks while striking out 44 batters. His WHIP stood at a remarkable 0.67, and opposing hitters struggled against him, batting a mere .109. Luis Gil also demonstrated his ability to overpower hitters, averaging an impressive 10.24 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched.
Luis Gil a revelation for Yankees
Luis Gil’s exceptional performance in May not only earned him recognition within the American League but also saw him lead the entire Major Leagues in several key pitching categories. The 26-year-old right-hander topped the Majors in wins, opponents’ batting average, and WHIP, showcasing his ability to consistently shut down opposing lineups.
Additionally, Luis Gil ranked second in the Majors in both ERA and innings pitched, further cementing his status as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball during the month. He also finished third in the Majors in strikeouts, demonstrating his impressive ability to miss bats and overpower hitters.
On Wednesday, during a game against the Los Angeles Angels, the Dominican Republic native delivered a career-best performance, tossing 8.0 innings while allowing just one run on two hits, issuing two walks, and striking out nine batters. This masterful outing significantly lowered his ERA to 1.99, a remarkable improvement from the 4.01 mark Luis Gil carried entering the month of May.
Earlier in the month, on May 18, Luis Gil etched his name into the Yankees’ record books by striking out 14 batters over 6.0 innings, surpassing the previous franchise rookie record of 13 strikeouts set by Orlando Hernández on August 13, 1998. During this game, Luis Gil showcased his dominance by recording seven consecutive strikeouts from the fourth inning through the sixth inning, leaving opposing hitters helpless against his electric stuff.
Luis Gil’s remarkable consistency throughout May was a key factor in his success. In each of his six starts during the month, he pitched at least 6.0 innings and never allowed more than one run. This impressive feat puts him in elite company within Yankees history, as Luis Gil joined Steve Kline (1972) as the only pitcher to accomplish such a streak.
His dominance extends beyond the Yankees‘ record books, as Luis Gil became just the 14th pitcher since 1901 under the age of 26 to have at least six consecutive starts of 6.0 innings or more while surrendering no more than one run in each outing.
As the season progresses, Luis Gil continues to establish himself as one of the premier rookies in the league. Among qualified rookie pitchers, he currently leads in several categories, including wins (7), strikeouts (79), and opponents’ batting average (.135). His ability to limit baserunners is evident in his 0.95 WHIP, which ranks second among rookies. Luis Gil’s 1.99 ERA places him third among his peers, while he is tied for third in both games started (11) and innings pitched (63.1).
These impressive statistics highlight Luis Gil’s significant impact on the Yankees’ pitching staff and his rapid ascent as one of the most promising young hurlers in the game. As he continues to develop and refine his skills, the Yankees can look forward to many more dominant performances from their rising star.
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I always said to not forget about rehabbing Luis Gil. OK, I wanted him as the Closer to start the year in AAA, to be promoted once he has the reliever things down. But in rehab, he mastered a 3rd pitch instead and took advantage of his chance, plus the coaching staff got a good look at him in 2021, which I think gave him an advantage.