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JON VANKIN is a journalist and writer. He is the author of five nonfiction books and nine graphic novels. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Salon, the L.A. Weekly and dozens of other publications and he has received numerous awards and honors including three New England Press Association awards.
In connection with his work, Vankin has made numerous media appearances on such networks as CNN, CNBC, FOX, the BBC and the CBC as well as hundreds of radio stations and podcasts.
Vankin in his wide-ranging career has also served as an editor of comic books and newspapers. He is the editor of the NEW YORK TIMES #1 BESTSELLING graphic novel GET JIRO! by the late, great Anthony Bourdain. He co-wrote the hit Off Broadway musical FOREVER DUSTY, and served as a sportswriter and editor at The Daily Yomiuri, the English-language edition of Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun, in Tokyo.
Contributing Sports Writer
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Coming into this season, the New York Yankees starting rotation looked to be in excellent shape. The Yankees would be led not only by the 2023 Cy Young Award winner, but by the 2024 Rookie of the Year as well.
But Gerrit Cole’s season ended before it began with Tommy John surgery in March. Meanwhile, last year’s breakout rookie pitching sensation Luis Gil had to stop a Feb. 28 bullpen session with an injury later revealed by medical imaging to be a high-grade lat muscle strain.
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Initially, Gil was set to begin a throwing program in April, with his return to the mound expected in June. But according to what manager Aaron Boone said on Monday, that expectation is now out the window.
Not only has Gil not yet started throwing again, more than two months after his initial injury, he is now expected to spend another two or three weeks on the sidelines before he starts throwing again.
In other words, Gil will not throw a baseball again until late May, which clearly makes a June return impossible.
“He’s going to need multiple bullpen sessions and an extended rehab assignment,” reported Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors.
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“That means the best-case for his return at this point would be July,” New York Post Yankees beat writer Greg Joyce reported Monday.
Gil seemed to come out of nowhere to win American League Rookie of the Year last season. Signed at the age of 16 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, Gil was traded to the Yankees three years later.
He made his MLB debut on Aug. 3, 2021 as an emergency starter when Cole tested positive for COVID. Gil allowed no runs in that start or his next two, becoming the first pitcher in the modern era of baseball to start his career with three scoreless starts.
But a series of injuries kept him out of action, except for one start in 2022, until last season when he won 15 games against just seven losses, with a 3.50 ERA.
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