MIAMI – Luis Gil beamed as he stood in front of his assigned locker in the visitors’ clubhouse at loanDepot park on Saturday afternoon, his long wait nearly over.
Nearly a full year after becoming the first Yankees pitcher to win the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award since Dave Righetti in 1981, Gil is ready to get back on the mound in a Major League game, set to make his season debut Sunday against the Marlins.
“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 has been out of action since Feb. 28, when he cut a bullpen session short after just five pitches at the Yankees’ Spring Training complex in Tampa, Fla. An MRI revealed a high-grade right lat strain that the team initially said would keep Gil from throwing for at least six weeks.
It turned out to be longer. Gil resumed facing hitters in late June and made four Minor League rehab starts, most recently on Tuesday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Nashville.
Gil threw 75 pitches that day, after which the Yankees deemed him ready.
“The rehab process for him has been smooth,” manager Aaron Boone said. “There haven’t been any setbacks or hiccups. I feel like every step of the way, he’s felt really good about it. We’ve had a good, solid buildup to where he’s almost to a full [pitch count] clip going into tomorrow. I think he’s very ready for it.”
Gil was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts last year. He made two starts in the postseason, including a nod in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.
Gil returns to a rotation that looks much different than the one he exited in February.
Youth is in: Rookie right-handers Cam Schlittler and Will Warren figure prominently into the club’s hopes down the stretch, joining veterans Max Fried and Carlos Rodón.
“It’s amazing to see those guys,” Gil said. “They’re young guys with amazing talent. They’re doing an excellent job. They’re fighting for it. It’s great to be part of that.”