The Times-Tribune’s annual countdown of the top 10 Yankees prospects is back. Here’s what happens: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders beat writer Conor Foley ranks 15 prospects, Donnie Collins ranks 15 prospects, and then they’re averaged together. The list takes into account ETA for the big leagues. You’re going to find some guys who might not have ceilings as high as others, but who instead could be in a position to help the Yankees sooner.
Luis Gil is on the 40-man, so even though he’s yet to pitch above High-A — and he only had three starts at that level — it seems possible the Yankees could be aggressive with him. He pitched twice in MLB spring training, striking out three of the six batters he faced in two scoreless innings. The hard-throwing righty has been at both versions of the alternate site at PNC Field, so he’s had some intensive work with the pitching staff. He threw a sim game on Thursday, so it looks like he’s lined up to start someone’s opening day game May 4.
The basics
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185
40-man? Yes
Acquired: Yankees’ return in the deal that sent Jake Cave to Minnesota.
SWB ETA: 2021
What about last year?
Spent the season at the alternate site at PNC Field, then pitched two games in the Dominican Winter League, allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out four and walked three. In 2019, he had a 2.72 ERA across 20 starts between Low-A Charleston and High-A Tampa. Overall, he struck out 11.5 and walked 4.4 per nine innings.
Tell me something
Here are parts of some scouting reports from national outlets:
- MLB Pipeline: “… Gil has higher-octane stuff than most starters, beginning with a fastball that operates at 95-98 mph for several innings at a time and regularly reaches triple digits with significant riding life up in the strike zone. … “
- Fangraphs: “… Gil’s feel for release is now dialed in enough that he is unlikely to have serious, role-altering walk issues, but not so much that he suddenly projects as a starter. His presence on the 40-man adds to the likelihood that he ends up working in relief and only relief, as does his limited repertoire. …”
Photo: New York Yankees
Conor Foley goes beyond the box score with in-depth coverage of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. He has worked at The Times-Tribune since graduating from University of Scranton in 2011, and he has covered the RailRiders since 2017. Contact: cfoley@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; or @railridersTT
