Yankees righty Luis Gil wins AL Rookie of the Year
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- November 19, 2024
Luis Gil becomes ninth Dominican Rookie of the Year
Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was surrounded by his parents, wife and agent Monday night back home in Azua, Dominican Republic, when he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. By the time he was done with media obligations, the party was on at his house.
“I’m truly very happy,” Gil said after winning the AL Jackie Robinson Award. “I’m here with my family, and I’m going to keep celebrating the award they gave me.”
Gil became the ninth native of the Dominican Republic to win a Rookie of the Year Award since Alfredo Griffin of the Blue Jays made history as the first in 1979. Gil is the fifth to win it in the AL. He and Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers are the only Dominican pitchers to have won a Rookie of the Year Award.
Gil joins countrymen Julio Rodriguez (2022), Perez, Angel Berroa (2003) and Griffin to win the AL Rookie of the Year. Fellow Dominicans Hanley Ramirez (2006), Albert Pujols (2001), Rafael Furcal (2000) and Raul Mondesi (1994) won the NL Rookie of the Year.
‘Joy and blessing’
“We received it with a lot of joy and blessing,” Gil said. “It means a lot to the Dominican, not just for me but for my family. Thank God.”
Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes won the NL award. Monday marked the first time since 1981 that pitchers swept the Rookie of the Year Awards. The late Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers won the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in 1981. The Yankees’ Dave Righetti won the 1981 Rookie of the Year Award.
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Gil edged out Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser for the award given by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He received 15 first-place votes, 10 second-place votes and one for third.
Cowser received 13 first-place votes, 11 for second place and three for third place. Ultimately, Gil edged out Cowser 106-101 in a system that awards five points for first place, three for second and one for third.
Mason Miller (16 points) of the Athletics and Cade Smith (12 points) of the Guardians each received one first-place vote. Gold Glove-winning right fielder Wilyer Abreu (11) of the Red Sox and Wyatt Langford of the Rangers also received votes.
Two voters from each AL city voted, as did two voters for each NL city for the NL award. Yankees catcher Austin Wells finished third with 17 points.
‘Proud’ Luis Gil
Skenes edged out Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, 136-104, in the NL. Skenes received 23 first-place votes and seven second-place votes. Merrill received the other seven first-place votes and 23 for second place.
Venezuelan teen sensation Jackson Chourio finished third with 26 third-place votes. Shota Imanaga of the Cubs received the other four third-place votes to finish fourth.
Gil, 26, was a major key for the AL champions. Originally optioned to Class AAA in spring training, he proved to be one of the Yankees’ best starters. He was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA over 29 starts for the Yankees. He struck out 171 over 151 ⅓ innings.
“I’m very proud,” Gil said. “My family is very happy with me and for this success I’ve had.”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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