Yankees fans got a glimmer of hope amid a tough stretch for the team’s pitching staff, as manager Aaron Boone shared a positive update on Luis Gil. On April 28, 2025, at 10:39 AM CDT, MLB insider Max Goodman posted on X that Boone confirmed Gil has started his throwing program, a significant step in his recovery from a high-grade lat strain that’s kept him sidelined since early March. Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, was a key piece of the Yankees’ rotation last year, posting a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings, helping the team reach the World Series. His return can’t come soon enough for a Yankees squad that’s been decimated by injuries, especially to their pitching rotation.
The Bronx Bombers are in a rough spot. Gerrit Cole, their ace, underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2025, ending his season before it began. Clarke Schmidt just returned on April 16 after missing the start of the year with rotator cuff tendonitis, and Marcus Stroman landed on the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation after a disastrous outing on April 14, where he gave up five runs in just two outs. The team’s current rotation—Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Stroman, Will Warren, and Schmidt—has struggled, with the Yankees’ team ERA sitting at 3.84, ranking 12th in MLB. That’s a far cry from their 2024 performance, when they finished with a 3.62 ERA, good for 7th in the league. Meanwhile, their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, lead the majors with a 2.34 ERA, a gap that stings even more given Juan Soto’s departure to Queens, where he’s reportedly thriving.
Gil’s progress is a lifeline for a rotation in desperate need of stability. Fried has been a bright spot, carrying the staff with a 1.56 ERA through his first three starts, including a no-hit bid against the Rays on April 25 that slipped away in the seventh due to a controversial call at first base. But the rest of the rotation has been shaky—Rodon’s been inconsistent with a 5.48 ERA and 12 walks in 23 innings, Warren’s at 5.14, and Stroman’s ERA ballooned to 11.57 before his injury. When healthy, Gil’s ability to miss bats (he led the AL with a .189 opponent batting average in 2024) and eat innings will be crucial. He’s projected to return around mid-season, likely early June, assuming no setbacks. That timeline aligns with Boone’s earlier comments from April 16, when he noted doctors wanted to see more healing in Gil’s lat before advancing his rehab, pushing back his throwing program by 10 days.
The Yankees are also waiting on Giancarlo Stanton, who’s been out with elbow issues but has started taking live batting practice, with a potential return in mid-May. If Gil can return before the All-Star break in mid-July, he could provide a major boost for a team looking to claw its way back into the AL East race. At 15-10, the Yankees are still in first place, but their pitching depth is razor-thin. Gil won’t replace Cole’s presence—a 2024 Cy Young finalist who anchored the staff with a 2.92 ERA—but he can help reduce the burden on Fried and give the Yankees a fighting chance to stay competitive until the trade deadline, where they might look to add another arm. For now, Gil’s throwing program is a small but critical step toward getting the Yankees’ rotation back on track.
