Luis Gil could need one more rehab start before Yankees return

Luis Gil might need one more minor-league rehab start before the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year comes back to the Yankees for his season debut. 

Aaron Boone said there’s “probably a good chance” Gil will make another start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after allowing five earned runs over 3 ¹/₃ innings Wednesday night for the RailRiders. 

“We haven’t made any final decisions on that,” Boone added before Friday’s 12-5 loss to the Phillies. “We’ll kind of work through it with this next side [session] and everything.” 

Gil has been sidelined all season after suffering a lat injury in spring training. Wednesday’s outing was his first at Scranton after making two appearances for Double-A Somerset. 

Luis Gil has not yet pitched in the big leagues this season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Boone was a midseason pickup by the Yankees in 2003. 

Like new third baseman Ryan McMahon, who was acquired Friday from MLB-worst Colorado and is expected to be available for Saturday’s game, Boone was thrust into a pennant race from the out-of-it Reds. 

Ryan McMahon is heading to the Yankees in a trade. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I think it helps having gone through it as a player,” Boone said. “I was acquired at the deadline, so it’s something that I’m very sensitive to, and I try to be really understanding that everyone is different, and you’re leaving a place, maybe, where you’ve been your entire career. 

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“Just go, do your thing, and go find the role. But it’s our job, my job, staff, coaches, players to make sure they’re, first of all, welcomed, and and get them as comfortable as possible, as soon as possible.” 

Following the game, the Yankees optioned Scott Effross and Jorbit Vivas to Triple-A. 

Ryan Yarbrough (oblique strain) was slated to throw what Boone described as a “touch-and-feel” bullpen session Friday. 

“He finally feels like he’s through it now, and it’s just getting built up,” the manager said. 

Fernando Cruz (oblique strain) also has resumed his throwing program “with the hope he would be on the mound sometime next week,” according to Boone. 

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