When Luis Gil stepped on the mound for the first time in the major leagues last week, the New York Yankees didn’t anticipate him completely dominating the opposition. In his first outing, Gil struck out six batters and allowed four hits over 6.0 innings. He didn’t give up a single run over 88 pitches, displaying a fantastic performance that earned him another opportunity on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the Yankees falling to the Seattle Mariners 0-2, Gil posted another fantastic performance. Over 5.0 innings, he allowed two hits and struck out eight batters, but unfortunately the offense couldn’t pick him up.
On the season, Gil hosts a 0.00 ERA, including an 11.45 strike-out rate and 2.45 walk rate. His left on-base percentage sits at a beautiful 100%, averaging 96 mph with his fastball. Gil seems to be possessed on the mound as of late, as he struggled at times in Triple-A with Scranton, posting a 5.64 ERA over eight games.
He’s quickly working his way into the starting rotation, especially with Luis Severino, Corey Kluber, and Gerrit Cole all missing time currently. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gil on the mound at the end of the week, looking to put forth another stellar outing.
Yankees’ Luke Voit displays “frustration” as he fields questions regarding Anthony Rizzo acquisition:
When the Yankees acquired Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs, one player was thrown under the bus, Luke Voit.
Voit has been a reliable player for the Bombers the past few seasons, especially in 2020 when he cracked a league-high 22 homers. However, he’s only played 30 games this year. The Yankees felt it necessary to supplement his loss with an offensive weapon.
While Voit was frustrated answering questions regarding the trade to reporters after the loss on Sunday, also mentioning the rumors that suggested he would be traded shortly after.
“After the Rizzo thing … my name was getting thrown out there a lot,†Voit said. “As much as you can watch (the trade rumors), you have no idea. With all the rumblings and stuff, it was more I left my phone on the table and if something happened, it happened. Luckily, I’m still a New York Yankee.â€
Voit understands the Yankees had to make a move, and Rizzo has been a godsend for the team since his acquisition. Of course, Luke feels as though he earned the opportunity to be the starter, but injuries force teams to make necessary moves at times.
“I get it,†Voit said. “I haven’t been around a lot this year. I guess the right opportunity came up for the front office to do something. I’ve played 20-some games this year.â€
Voit made it clear that he will be playing for 29 other teams this year, trying to prove his worth and why acquiring him would be a positive move. However, Rizzo is in the final year of his contract, so it is entirely possible the Yankees allow him to walk and keep Voit as their primary first baseman.