The New York Yankees are not having the spring training they hoped for. The most crucial aspect of every spring training is keeping your team healthy, but that has not been the case for the Yankees. Last week, it was reported that Giancarlo Stanton would begin the season on the injured list; now, the same can be said for pitcher Luis Gil.
Luis Gil Sidelined for 6 Weeks With Lat Strain
After 2024’s breakout season, Gil must wait a while before returning to the mound. According to Alden González of ESPN on X, Gil suffered a high-grade lat strain and will not throw for at least six weeks.
SP Luis Gil has a high-grade lat strain and won’t throw for at least six weeks, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
They’re still gathering more information before announcing an exact timeline.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 3, 2025
Gil is coming off an AL Rookie of the Year-winning season; he went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, throwing 151.2 innings with 171 strikeouts. He became the first Yankee to win Rookie of the Year since Aaron Judge in 2017.
This is a tough loss for a Yankees team with question marks in their starting rotation. Beyond Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón, there is nothing but question marks. Gil was expected to be the fourth starter, but that is no longer the case, at least until he returns, though his timeline is currently unknown.
Could the Yankees Face a World Series Hangover?
The Yankees are coming off a 4-1 series loss in the Fall Classic last year. This offseason, they saw a lot of roster turnover. Losing Juan Soto in free agency was a massive loss, but the Yankees front office did their best to fill that void with complementary players. Adding players like Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt should help the Yankees around the margins. But no one is going to replicate the impact of Soto.
Also, it appears the AL East has gotten tougher this offseason. The Boston Red Sox are much improved, and the Baltimore Orioles should again be playoff contenders. You can easily argue that the AL East is the best division in baseball. If they hope to return to the World Series, the Yankees will have their work cut out for them this year.
READ MORE: Fox Sports Names a Surprise MLB Player as New York’s Biggest Star Ahead of Aaron Judge
Coming off a 94-win regular season, the Yankees have a projected win total of 92.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Also, they have the second-best odds to win the World Series at +700.
It is safe to assume the Yankees will take a step back in 2025, but they should still be a playoff team and contend for the World Series. The pitching rotation might be what makes or breaks the 2025 Yankees. While Gil may miss a while, the sooner they get him back, the better.
