MIAMI — The Yankees will welcome a familiar face to the mound Sunday as right-hander Luis Gil is scheduled to make his long-awaited 2025 season debut in the series finale against the Miami Marlins.
Gil, who won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, has been sidelined since spring training with a high-grade lat strain. After completing a steady rehab progression, he is now ready to rejoin a Yankees rotation that has struggled to find consistency amid injuries, ineffectiveness and recent roster turnover.
“The rehab process for him has been smooth,” manager Aaron Boone said. “There haven’t been any setbacks or hiccups. He’s almost to a full pitch count clip going into tomorrow. I think he’s very ready for it.”
Gil’s rehab builds toward full return
The 26-year-old completed four minor league rehab outings, including his final start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. He threw 75 pitches over 4⅓ innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven. According to Boone, Gil is expected to be on a pitch count of around 75 to 90 pitches for his season debut.
Gil said the focus during his recovery was on timing and staying patient through a meticulous throwing progression.
“From the moment I got hurt, immediately I just wanted to be out there,” Gil said through an interpreter. “It’s been a long process, but I think we’ve done a really good job at following the plan in place to get back on the field and get healthy again.”
Gil resumed facing hitters in late June and showed steady progress with no reported setbacks. The Yankees had initially expected him back after the All-Star break but exercised caution after his lat strain limited him for much of camp.
Rejoining a reshaped Yankees rotation
Gil steps into a staff that has been forced to adapt quickly. New York released Marcus Stroman on August 1, parting ways with the veteran right-hander after a series of underwhelming outings. Rookies Will Warren and Cam Schlittler have held down rotation spots in recent weeks but have shown signs of fatigue.
The return of Gil adds a high-upside arm to a group led by Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Boone said the plan is to give Gil every opportunity to reclaim a starting role over the final two months of the regular season.
In 2024, Gil went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA over 29 starts, racking up 171 strikeouts across 151⅔ innings. He helped anchor a Yankees team that made it to the World Series before falling to the Dodgers in six games. While command issues surfaced at times, Gil’s high-octane fastball and strikeout ability made him one of the most exciting young arms in the league.
Playoff stakes intensify Gil’s return
New York enters Sunday with a 60-51 record, sitting in third place in the American League East behind the Blue Jays and Red Sox. The Yankees are currently holding one of the American League wild card spots but have gone just 18-26 since mid-June.
Their recent struggles have stemmed in part from inconsistent starting pitching and a string of injuries that disrupted the roster’s balance. Boone emphasized that Gil’s presence could help stabilize the rotation and give the club a lift down the stretch.
“He’s been champing at the bit for a while,” Boone said. “We know what he can do when he’s right. Hopefully this is the start of something good.”
Monitoring his pitch count and role
Though Gil is returning to the rotation, the Yankees plan to manage his workload carefully. His usage will depend on game flow, pitch efficiency and how he recovers between outings. With fewer than two months left in the regular season, every inning Gil can provide will carry significant weight.
The Yankees are also evaluating how Gil fits into their postseason plans. If he builds enough stamina, he could re-emerge as a playoff starter. If not, a swingman or high-leverage relief role could be on the table.
For now, the focus remains on Sunday. Gil will face a Marlins lineup that has scuffled offensively this season. It’s a chance for the Yankees to halt their recent slide and begin August with renewed purpose — and possibly, with their breakout star back at the center of it.
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