Luis Gil's spring training progress and what to look for in Yankees camp this week
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TAMPA, Fla. – That first-half 2024 version of Luis Gil – with a 2.03 ERA through 14 starts – might be hard to replicate.
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But in the beginning of Yankees spring training, Gil is showing signs of being a consistent and reliable mid-rotation starter – an element that could be vital to their October pursuit.
Beyond the early results, “what I’ve liked is the progression,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, after Gil’s solid 2.2 inning start Sunday against the Mets at Steinbrenner Field.
“I feel like I’m on the right track,’’ said Gil, who yielded one run, walked none and registered four strikeouts Sunday. “Felt like I started on the right foot in this camp.’’
Last year at this time, Gil developed a lat strain that delayed his season opener until Aug. 3.
Physically, “I feel like I’m where I need to be,’’ Gil said Sunday through an interpreter, adding that he can “get back to that level’’ in 2024, his AL Rookie of the Year season.
Ben Rice's exhibition debut
After dealing with a stiff neck earlier in camp, Ben Rice is due to make his first exhibition game start Monday, when the Yankees visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at Bradenton.
Rice is expected to be the regular first baseman, though veteran Paul Goldschmidt – who has looked good early in camp – will start versus some lefties.
The lefty hitting Rice will also keep a hand in catching duties, having already caught several bullpens, though it’s unclear if he’ll draw more than handful of starts at the position.
Cam Schlittler's progress on the mound
On Saturday, Cam Schlittler threw his latest bullpen session, simulating two innings.
Delayed for a week early in camp by mid back inflammation, Schlittler “should be in a good place,’’ said Boone. “He was already built up pretty far along, so I don’t think we took too much of a step back.’’
Schlitter’s next milestone could be to throw against live hitters sometime this week.
Giancarlo Stanton's exhibition target date
During Sunday’s batting practice, Giancarlo Stanton got in some right field work.
He’s yet to play in an exhibition game, part of the usual spring training buildup for the veteran slugger.
According to Boone, Stanton’s first Grapefruit League game could be on March 3, as a designated hitter.
Aaron Judge's run-up to the WBC
After homering twice in his 2026 Grapefruit League debut Saturday, Judge served as the DH on Sunday, and he could be back in the exhibition lineup as early as Tuesday at Dunedin against the Blue Jays.
Boone is playing Judge more frequently than usual in these early exhibition games, part of Judge’s buildup to the World Baseball Classic.
Several Yankees will be departing for their WBC camps by Sunday, including Judge, Goldschmidt and David Bednar (USA), Jose Caballero (Panama), Austin Wells (Dominican Republic) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Great Britain).
What's next for Luis Gil
During Sunday’s start, Gil’s fastball velocity maxed out at 96.6-mph, and he was routinely in the 95-mph range.
Gil lost some velocity on that pitch in 2025, but he’s been making “consistent progress since the moment I got here,’’ feeling those velocity numbers should tick up in 2026.
“I don’t know if some of that was guarding against (re-injury) or feeling like he was having a hard time getting into the strike zone consistently,’’ Boone said of Gil’s missing velo in 2025.
The next time to check Gil’s radar readings could be in a start Friday at Fort Myers against the Twins, or in a simulated game at Tampa.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Luis Gil's spring training progress and what to look for in Yankees camp this week