KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Luis Gil doesn’t want to look ahead.
He’s focused on training between starts and starts, and that mindset has worked well for him.
But if arguably the hardest-to-hit starting pitcher in the league is selected to the All-Star Game, he’ll want to pitch at the event at Globe Life Field in Texas.
“If the opportunity arises, I’d love to go in and pitch,” Gil said through translator Marlon Abreu before the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. “It’s a blessing and a dream.”
The 26-year-old is a near certainty to make the roster, as he enters the game with the third-best ERA (2.04) among qualified starting pitchers in the AL and the best batting average against in MLB (.136).
There are further questions about whether his right arm will hold up and whether the Yankees will be comfortable testing the limits with a right arm that they value and that recently underwent surgery.
Gill is in his first full season since returning from Tommy John surgery in May 2022 and pitched just four innings in the minor leagues last September.
If Gill takes the mound on Friday at Fenway Park, he will add to his already impressive 75 innings.
The most innings he’s pitched in a season as a pro is 108²/₃, which he did in the minors and majors in 2021, but he’s on pace to eclipse that mark with a few starts, meaning he’ll likely log a career-high innings pitched come early July.
Gil doesn’t seem worried.
“I’m feeling great,” said Gill, who has allowed three hits or less in 10 of his 13 starts this season. “We haven’t really talked about limitations. [his innings] Not at all. For me, it’s really important to lock myself away.”
Aaron Boone suggested the same thing.
The Yankees are monitoring Gill’s health not only through what he says but also what the data tells them – for example, his arm position and whether his velocity has started to decline – and the manager said Gill is feeling good.
Boone said there have been no discussions yet about slowing down the velocity of what has been the team’s best pitcher thus far.
“We’ll see how it goes and then we’ll make a decision,” Boone said.
In his previous start, a win over the Twins, Boone removed Gill after six innings of 88 pitches, but Boone noted that was just a little ploy to give Gill a rest every now and then.
“Just because he’s OK with it doesn’t mean we’re going to push through,” Boone said. “We certainly are.” [his workload] And we continue to keep an eye on his recovery, how he’s recovering, how he’s doing, everything.”
With Gerrit Cole due to return soon and Clarke Schmidt due to return within the next few months, they’ll add more options to a already excellent rotation.
The Yankees could also move Gill to relief to help their bullpen produce more strikeouts.
But would they really demote arguably the most exciting pitcher in the American League so far?
Gill, meanwhile, believes his arm can hold up beyond this season.
“If the opportunity arises, I feel like I’ll be ready to pitch through October,” Gill said. “I think it’s going to depend on how well I feel, my preparation and all the things that come with it. I feel good right now.”
