The Yankees hope to have Luis Gil back “sometime in the summer,” Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday.
Gil recently suffered a high-grade lat strain, which a second MRI confirmed back in New York. While Gil is currently shut down from throwing for six weeks, Cashman noted it could always take longer for the righty to pick up a ball. From there, Gil will have to start a throwing program, graduate to bullpen sessions and eventually pitch in rehab games before he can rejoin the Yankees.
“You’re talking three months you’re not going to see him,” Cashman said, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
Gil has battled injuries in the past, including shoulder surgery in the minors and, more recently, Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old effectively returned from the latter procedure last spring before claiming the Yankees’ fifth rotation spot after elbow inflammation sidelined Gerrit Cole.
Gil then won Rookie of the Year with a 15-7 record, a 3.50 ERA, 77 walks and 171 strikeouts over 29 starts. He also shattered his career-high for innings pitched, logging 151.2 in the regular season before throwing eight more frames in the postseason.
With Gil out for a while, Marcus Stroman pencils in as the Yankees’ fifth starter following an offseason of trade rumors and an early-camp declaration that he won’t pitch out of the bullpen. The team’s other depth rotation options include the veteran Carlos Carrasco, young righty Will Warren, who is having an impressive spring, and non-roster invitee Allan Winans.