Gil's professional career started slowly, as it took nine months during the 2014-15 international signing period before the Twins inked him for $90,000 out of the Dominican Republic and shoulder surgery sidelined him for an entire season following his 2015 debut. He flashed a mid-90s fastball when he returned in 2017, and the Yankees acquired him in a trade for Jake Cave the following spring. He added velocity as well as pitchability in his first two years in New York's system, though he still needs more polish.
Gil has the best fastball in a system full of power arms, regularly pitching at 95-98 mph and often topping triple digits while maintaining his velocity as a starter. His heater not only lights up radar guns but also features significant riding action, making it very difficult for hitters to catch up to, especially up in the strike zone. He has a power breaking ball with high spin rates that usually arrives with slider velocity (83-85 mph) and sometimes features more of a curveball shape.
To make it as a starter, Gil will need to develop more consistency with his breaking ball while continuing to refine his changeup. His walk rate (4.2 per nine innings) at Class A Charleston was the best of his career, and he'll have to continue to improve his control and command as he faces more advanced hitters. If he can't stick in a rotation, his electric arm could make him a potential closer.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 50
Gil didn't hook up with a team at the outset of the 2014-15 international signing period, waiting seven months before the Twins gave him a $90,000 bonus. The Dominican had shoulder surgery following his 2015 pro debut and missed all of the next season before showing flashes of a mid-90s fastball when he returned. When the Yankees needed roster space after signing Neil Walker in March 2018, they designated Jake Cave for assignment and traded him to Minnesota for Gil.
Gil's big arm stands out in a system filled with big arms, because he regularly operates at 94-98 mph and can reach 101 mph with his four-seam fastball. He keeps his velocity deep into his starts and can blow his heater by hitters up in the strike zone. He can also miss bats with a power curveball that has exceptional spin rates and has begun to work on a changeup that has a long ways to go.
The fact that Gil didn't reach full-season ball in his first four years as a pro testifies to how he's very much a work in progress. He has trouble keeping his delivery in sync and repeating his release point, which makes it difficult for him to harness his overpowering stuff. New York will keep feeding him innings as a starter because he needs experience, but he may wind up as a dynamic late-inning reliever.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45
When he signed out of the Dominican Republic, Gil received far less acclaim than some of his fellow right-handers in the Twins' 2014-15 international signing class, which included $800,000 bonus baby Huascar Ynoa and current Top 100 Prospect Brusdar Graterol. He had shoulder surgery after his pro debut and missed all of 2016, then returned to the mound and flashed a mid-90s fastball last summer. After the Yankees signed Neil Walker in March and made room for him by designating Jake Cave for assignment, they dealt Cave to Minnesota for Gil.
Gil has continued to light up radar guns with his new organization, regularly working at 95-98 mph with his fastball and topping out at 101. He has shown the ability to maintain his velocity throughout his starts and get swings and misses with his heater up in the zone. He also eludes bats with his low-80s curveball, which features a high spin rate. He has begun work on adding a changeup to his arsenal.
Gil can overwhelm hitters with his fastball and curveball but he can't always harness them. He's athletic enough to repeat his delivery and doesn't throw with much effort, so there's hope that he can figure out control and command. If not, he still could become an electrifying reliever.
