Yankees' Luis Gil closes out spring training with impressive start

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Yankees pitcher Luis Gil had an impressive outing in the team's final spring training game, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against the Orioles. Gil showed improved velocity on his fastball, averaging 96.8 mph and topping out at 98.8 mph, a sign he is regaining the form that earned him AL Rookie of the Year consideration in 2024. Manager Aaron Boone was pleased with Gil's performance, saying "That was 2024 Luis Gil right there." The Yankees now have to decide whether to keep Gil in the starting rotation or option him to Triple-A to start the season.

Why it matters

Gil's strong spring training outing is an encouraging sign for the Yankees as they finalize their roster and rotation heading into the 2026 season. After struggling with injuries and inconsistency in 2025, this performance suggests Gil may be regaining the dominant form he displayed as a rookie, which could be a major boost to the Yankees' pitching staff.

The details

Gil came out firing on all cylinders, averaging 96.8 mph on his fastball and topping out at 98.8 mph, up over 1 mph from his previous spring outings. He credited the uptick in velocity to working on his release point in a bullpen session earlier in the week. The improved stuff allowed Gil to generate 5 swinging strikes on 23 fastballs, a sign he had regained the deception and swing-and-miss ability that made him so effective as a rookie. Boone was impressed, saying "That was 2024 Luis Gil right there" and noting the performance was a good sign of things to come.

• On March 20, 2026, Gil threw five scoreless innings against the Orioles in the Yankees' final spring training game.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Yankees will have to decide whether to keep Gil in the starting rotation or option him to Triple-A to start the 2026 season, with the team still determining if they will go with a four- or five-man rotation.