Yankees’ Luis Gil Excluded from Opening Day Rotation, Likely Headed to Minors

The New York Yankees are set to kick off the 2026 season without one of their promising pitchers, as Luis Gil will not be part of the Opening Day starting rotation. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the team is currently deliberating whether Gil should start the season in the minor leagues to ensure he can make regular starts.

Opening the season, the Yankees will rely on a four-man rotation consisting of Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers. This decision raises questions about Gil’s immediate future, as the organization weighs his potential move to the minors for continued development.

At 27 years old, Gil’s spring training performance was a mixed bag. He allowed 10 runs and 20 hits, including six home runs, across 19 1/3 innings. Nonetheless, he showcased his strikeout ability, racking up 24 strikeouts during Grapefruit League play. His final start of the spring was particularly impressive; he surrendered just one hit over five scoreless innings while striking out seven against the Baltimore Orioles. “That was 2024 Luis Gil right there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked, highlighting the positive momentum from that outing.

Despite his spring struggles, Gil’s past performances cannot be overlooked. He earned the American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, finishing with a 3.50 ERA and a 15-7 record, including 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings. However, injuries plagued him in 2025, including shoulder tightness and a lat strain that sidelined him for the first four months, limiting him to 11 starts and a 3.32 ERA with a decrease in strikeouts.

Whether Gil finds himself in the bullpen or in the minors to maintain a starter’s workload, the Yankees’ early schedule suggests he may be needed in the rotation sooner rather than later. With three off days in the first two weeks, the team faces a grueling stretch of 13 straight games from April 7-19.

Ryan Weathers, who will also be part of the rotation, faced his own challenges this spring, allowing 16 runs and 23 hits over 12 1/3 innings for an 11.68 ERA. However, he also notched 17 strikeouts, and Boone attributed his performance to a few rough innings rather than a lack of ability. “I don’t feel like Weathers has been that far off, and better than his line,” Boone stated. “His stuff is in a good place. It’s just getting it into some better spots where he’s gotten hit around.”

The Yankees are set to begin their 2026 season on Wednesday, facing the San Francisco Giants in an 8:05 p.m. ET game that will stream exclusively on Netflix.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.