The New York Yankees entered the day today with a big decision to make. Pitching ace Gerrit Cole was put on the Covid list after testing positive for the virus. He was to start tonight’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. During the game last night, it was mentioned that Nestor Cortes Jr. would most likely get the start. But late last night, the Yankees called up prospect Luis Gil to make his major league debut.
Gil was acquired from the Twins for Jake Cave in March 2018. In his third year with the New York Yankees, he has become an up-and-coming pitcher of the young arms in the Yankee organization. Fangraphs rates him twelfth in the organization, while Baseball America has him fourth among all Yankees farmhands. Both raters point out his fastball that gets into the high nineties. With the Patriots and Railriders, he has gotten numerous swinging strikeouts. He also has a high-speed changeup and a mid 80’s slider. Scouts say his secret to success is his fastball with movement.
Between the two teams this year, he has a respectable 4.13 ERA and a 4-1 record in his last fifteen games. Â Gil strikes out 33% of hitters he faces but also walks too many players, which has dogged his career.
The 23-year-old is 6′ 2″ and weighs 185 pounds. There is no question that Gil will be a major league pitcher; the question will be if it is as a starter or out of the bullpen. But tonight is his night to shine at Yankee Stadium. This is something Gil has waited all of his life for; hopefully, the bright lights of the big park and moment don’t cause him to be overly nervous.
Gill will face the Orioles Alexander Wells, a lefty 1-1 with an ERA of 5.28 and 12 strikeouts in four pitched games. Wells is coming off two straight losses, one to the Tampa Bay Rays and, more recently, one to the Detroit Tigers. In those two games, he gave up seven earned runs. He also walks hitters more than the league average. However, he will have some advantage over the Yankees hitters, as they have never seen him pitch. But the O’s haven’t seen Gil either.
Tonight’s game will be televised on the YES Network, MASN in Baltimore, and nationally on MLBN out of market.