Luis Gil Sets Yankees Rookie Record with 14 Ks, Fans Eye ROY Award for Breakout Star

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil set a franchise rookie record by striking out 14 batters during Saturday's 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Gil's dominant start included a stretch of seven straight strikeouts. He closed out the sixth inning with back-to-back Ks to set the new Yankees rookie standard.

The rookie Yankees record was previously held by Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who set the standard of 13 strikeouts in 1998.

Hernandez threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Saturday game at Yankee Stadium.

Hernandez went on to finish the 1998 season fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.

Yankees fans now think Gil could be on the way to a first-place finish for some AL awards of his own.

Earlier this season Gil struck out a career-high nine batters during an April 21 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

In nine starts this season Gil has a 2.39 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 49.0 innings pitched. The Yankees rookie has struck out a total of 62 batters while walking 27.

Gil, a former international free agent traded to the Yankees by the Minnesota Twins in 2018, made his first Yankees appearance in 2021.

He earned his place in the Yankees rotation after Gerrit Cole was sidelined by injury, but Gil's 5-1 record has made a convincing case for him to remain a starter even after Cole returns.