It will be a while before the New York Yankees’ Luis Gil returns to the mound.

The American League’s reigning Rookie of the Year has been shut down with a high-grade lat strain following an MRI, Aaron Boone told reporters on Monday. The Yankees’ manager said that Gil won’t throw for at least six weeks as he continues to get exams and opinions from doctors.

Boone added that Gil is in good spirits, and he hopes to have the right-hander back this season.

Gil will need a full spring training-style ramp-up once he’s cleared to throw, so he’s currently looking at an end-of-May return as a best-case scenario.

His health first became a concern on Friday when he cut his own bullpen session short. Boone immediately called the development concerning and expected Gil to miss some time.

Gil has battled injuries in the past, including Tommy John surgery. He effectively returned from the procedure last spring before earning the Yankees’ fifth rotation spot following Gerrit Cole’s bout with elbow inflammation.

Gil, 26, went on to win Rookie of the Year with a 15-7 record, a 3.50 ERA, 77 walks and 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings over 29 starts.

With Gil now sidelined, Marcus Stroman figures to be the Yankees’ fifth starter following months of trade rumors. The Yankees could still look to move the veteran and a portion of his $18 million salary, but that’s proven difficult following Stroman’s poor second half in 2024.

With Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt making up the rest of the Yankees’ rotation, other depth options include Carlos Carrasco, Will Warren and Allan Winans. JT Brubaker, another depth option entering camp, recently suffered three broken ribs.

bRAVES CATCHER MURPHY OUT WITH CRACKED RIB

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy has a cracked rib and is expected to miss four to six weeks, the team said on Monday.

The injury gives top prospect Drake Baldwin the chance to start the season as the starting catcher.

Murphy, 30, was an All-Star in 2023 but struggled last season after an abdominal strain on opening day and batted .193 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 72 games. He played his first four MLB seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2019-22).

The Braves declined Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million option during the offseason, clearing the path for Murphy to be the No. 1 catcher. D’Arnaud signed with the Angels.

Chadwick Tromp is the only other catcher on the Atlanta 40-man roster. He hit .250 in 19 games in 2024. Veterans Sandy León and Curt Casali are in camp as non-roster invitees.

The 23-year-old Baldwin batted .276 with 16 homers and 88 RBIs in 124 games between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett last season.

ASTROS’ ALTUVE WILL BE REGULAR IN LEFT FIELD

The Houston Astros are planning to play Jose Altuve mostly in left field this season, manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle.

A nine-time All-Star, three-time batting champion and the 2017 AL MVP, Altuve has played all but two of his 1,767 MLB games at second base. He won the Gold Glove in 2015 and in 2020 led the AL with the fewest errors there, with four.

“Right now the plan is for him to play the majority of his games in left field,” Espada said, adding that moving Altuve “back and forth is something that I am going to avoid.”

The idea of moving Altuve to left was first broached when the team was looking to keep third baseman Alex Bregman. If Bregman had returned to Houston, it might have forced newly acquired Isaac Paredes to shift to second base and Altuve to the outfield.

Altuve said at the team’s FanFest in January, “Whatever I have to do for him to stay, I’m willing to do it.”

Asked about how difficult it would be to switch to the outfield after never playing there before, he said with a smile, “For Alex, nothing will be difficult.”

Even after Bregman signed with Boston, moving Altuve to the outfield still made sense to the team.