Struggling Gil still looking for 'next level of electricity' with fastball

TAMPA, Fla. – Luis Gil’s 12th pitch sailed over the wall in left-center field, tagged by Spencer Torkelson for a three-run homer. The rest of his Grapefruit League start against the Tigers didn’t look – or sound – much better.

Tagged for seven loud runs in the Yankees’ 12-1 Grapefruit League loss to Detroit, Gil has given the Yankees a spring of mixed results to chew on. Though Aaron Boone said Sunday he considers Gil “one of the five guys” in the season-opening rotation, the manager acknowledged they need more.

“I’ve seen a lot of good from Luis,” Boone said. “I want him to get back to that first half of 2024, where it’s that next level of electricity with the heater. He’s having trouble right now getting swing and miss with the heater, but it’s the whole package.”

Javier Báez banged a run-scoring double into the left-field corner that capped the four-run first inning, while Matt Vierling and Riley Greene later added homers off Gil, who surrendered nine hits over three innings.

Gil walked one and struck out two, and though his fastball averaged 95.8 mph, he generated two swings and misses on 19 swings against it. Six of his sliders produced whiffs.

“This is one of those starts that you run into as a starter,” Gil said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “You have your good days and bad days. You’ve got to take the good that you can find from it. The bad, you learn from the bad.

“You turn the page quickly, and the important thing is not to lose sight of what’s important – preparing, battling, no matter what. You start getting ready for the next one.”

Boone said he has slowly seen Gil’s velocity tick up this spring, but he has had issues with command of his fastball, sliders and changeup.

“We’ve got to get the whole arsenal in play for him,” Boone said.

The American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, when he went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts, Gil sustained a high-grade right lat strain last spring that delayed his season debut until August and limited him to 11 starts.

While Gil has said he would like to replicate or exceed his stat line from 2024, Sunday’s outing suggested there are aspects he must work on.

“One of the things I can point out, we’ve been on a really good track velo-wise,” Gil said. “The profile of the fastball is getting closer to what we’ve seen before from me. Definitely, you’ve got to work on the changeup. The changeup wasn’t as good today. It’s something we’ve got to work on and get back on track.”

The Yankees have four off-days within the first 13 days of the regular season, which could keep them from needing a fifth starter early.

Max Fried has been announced as the scheduled starter for the March 25 opener against the Giants in San Francisco. Cam Schlittler appears in line for the second game on March 27, though he’ll likely be limited to about 70 pitches and that has not been formally announced.

Based on the recent Grapefruit League order, Will Warren could start the third game in San Francisco ahead of the March 29 off-day. That would line up Ryan Weathers, Fried and Schlittler for the Mariners series beginning March 30 in Seattle.

Warren could be in line to start the April 3 home opener. It’s also worth noting that Weathers (8.68 ERA in 9 1/3 spring innings) has been knocked around in his past two starts, but he has generated more swings and misses.

“We’ve got to sort out how we’re going to do all of that,” Boone said.