The genesis of Gil's exceptional rookie campaign

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- To evaluate Luis Gil's impact on the Yankees' rotation this past season, one must travel back and revisit a March 11 exhibition in Clearwater, Fla., when the young right-hander stifled the Phillies in a commanding eight-strikeout performance.

After that game, in which Gil permitted just one hit over 3 2/3 otherwise spotless innings, the Yanks’ decision-makers raised their eyebrows and caught each other with impressed eye contact. They had the makings of something special, which might culminate with Gil winning the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award later on Monday.

“I always go back to that outing in Clearwater,” manager Aaron Boone said, “where he was already sent down to Minor League camp and we brought him over. He just kind of overwhelmed the Phillies that day with his stuff, has taken it and not really stopped.”

Gil, Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser and Yankees catcher Austin Wells are the finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, which will be announced Monday at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network. The NL Rookie of the Year Award will also be announced, with the Pirates’ Paul Skenes, the Padres’ Jackson Merrill and the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio as finalists.

As Boone mentioned, Gil’s path to his first Opening Day roster included a mid-spring demotion to Minor League camp, which was reversed when Gerrit Cole flew to the West Coast seeking opinions on a right elbow injury that would delay the ace’s season debut.

Gil effectively filled the gap left by Cole's absence, with the 26-year-old’s arsenal crackling hotter than anticipated following a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery. In 14 starts until Cole rejoined the rotation on June 19, Gil was 9-1 with a 2.03 ERA, holding opponents to a razor-thin .142 batting average and .495 OPS.

“I’m definitely proud of the season that I was able to put together,” Gil said through an interpreter. “Health was a very important aspect of it. I was able to do that, to stay healthy and stay on the field. From Day 1, really locking in on the days that I pitched [and] maturing as the season went on definitely is one of the reasons why I'm here where I am today.”

Overall, Gil posted a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts. In 151 2/3 innings, he permitted 104 hits and 77 walks while striking out 171, with the league managing a .189/.297/.345 (104-for-550) slash line. Gil led all AL pitchers in opponent batting average and was second in hits per nine innings (6.17).

He was fourth in the AL for K/9 (10.15), sixth in opponent slugging and 10th in opponent OPS (.643). He also paced all AL rookies in wins and tied for the rookie lead in strikeouts.

“He’s had a great year, being a rookie starting pitcher for the Yankees and putting up what he did,” Wells said. “He’s been amazing, and to be able to be part of that success with him has been a lot of fun. He’s going to continue to be a big piece for us.”

Aaron Judge was the most recent Yankee to win Rookie of the Year (2017), and the franchise has not had a pitcher bring home the award since Dave Righetti (1981). Late in the season, Gil was asked what it would mean to him if his name is called.

“It would be a blessing, just understanding where I come from,” Gil said. “I come from a small town [Azua, Dominican Republic]. It would mean a lot to me, mean a lot for my people back home and for us as an organization.”