There’s still more than a month until the All-Star Game.
But Luis Gil, one of the American League’s top starting pitchers, will have a chance to improve on that potential on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the Twins, the team that traded the then-20-year-old Gil to the Yankees in 2018 for outfielder Jake Cave.
“Lewis is one of the best pitchers in the league,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday, “so his impact is immeasurable.”
Gill, who is filling the starting rotation spot left vacant by an injury to Gerrit Cole, had a 1.99 ERA through his first 11 starts as of Tuesday.
As of Monday, Gill’s 26th birthday, it was the fifth-lowest overall among qualified starting pitchers and third-lowest in the American League behind Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (1.72) and Red Sox right-hander Tanner Hawk (1.85).
Gil’s .135 batting average against was the best among qualified pitchers in the majors, and the second-best average wasn’t far behind (Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez, .167).
Those modest numbers were largely due to a strong May, which earned Gill the AL Pitcher of the Month and Rookie of the Month awards on Monday.
In six starts in May, Gill went 6-0 with a 0.70 ERA, striking out 44 batters in 38 2/3 innings while allowing just 14 hits and 12 walks.
“He’s always thrown his trademark fastball, but he’s getting more polished,” Boone said. “What we’ve seen in the first couple months is he has a real desire to get better and he’s learned from everything he’s been through and has developed a really solid routine, which is what’s really pleasing about Lewis.”
To the surprise of no one, Aaron Judge was named the American League Player of the Month on Monday after dominating opponents.
In 28 games, he batted .361 with a 1.397 OPS, 14 home runs, 12 doubles, 22 walks and 27 RBIs.
The Yankees captain capped off a momentous month by enjoying the first series of his career at Oracle Park, the stadium he attended as a boy.
“It was a really fun weekend coming here and getting a chance to win it all,” Judge said. “The place was packed, there was cheering, there was booing, there was a lot going on, but it was a lot of fun. I was really happy to get the chance to compete. It lived up to my expectations.”
Michael Tonkin pitched two scoreless innings in relief on Sunday and earned the win.
In 10 games with the Yankees, he allowed two runs in 15 innings.
