Luis Gil will make his first begin at Busch Stadium on Friday when the Yankees start a three-game collection with the Cardinals. He as soon as imagined it could possibly be his house ballpark.
Earlier than the flame-throwing right-hander, born within the Dominican metropolis of Azua, signed his first skilled contract with the Twins or was traded to the Yankees, a 16-year-old Gil acquired vital curiosity from Rodny Jimenez. A Cardinals space scout within the Dominican Republic, Jimenez had been a minor league pitcher within the Braves group and acknowledged Gil’s burgeoning arm expertise straight away.
Gil, in the meantime, thought he would develop into a Cardinal with Jimenez pushing so laborious for him.
“All I know is he was very interested in signing me.”
Sadly, no deal ever materialized between Gil and St. Louis after Jimenez died unexpectedly. In line with Brian Walton of The Cardinal Nation, the scout suffered a coronary heart assault in June 2014.
Jimenez was 32 years outdated.
“Rodny will be remembered as someone with a lot of passion for his family and the game of baseball,” the Cardinals wrote of their 2015 media information. They added that he was “always looking to learn and improve on his craft, and was a joy to be around.”
Gil solely knew that Jimenez handed away all of the sudden earlier than the 2014 worldwide signing deadline in July.
He finally signed with Minnesota in February 2015, and he was traded to the Yankees for outfielder Jake Cave as a minor leaguer in 2018.
Whereas Gil wasn’t fairly positive what occurred to Jimenez, his begins now depart Rodríguez reflecting on the late scout.
“Every time I see Luis pitch, I think of Rodny because he was very convicted about the player,” mentioned Rodríguez, who employed and shaped an in depth working relationship with Jimenez.
Rodríguez famous that the Cardinals group shared Jimenez’s curiosity in Gil. The membership engaged the pitcher’s agent, however an settlement couldn’t be reached.
Now the Cardinals will get to see a extra seasoned Gil in St. Louis.
Friday will mark simply his third begin of the 2025 marketing campaign after a spring coaching lat damage delayed Gil’s season debut. Nonetheless, the 27-year-old is the reigning American League Rookie of the 12 months after going 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 77 walks and 171 strikeouts over 29 begins and 151.2 innings in 2024.
Gil, identified to be erratic at instances, walked 4 batters and allowed 5 runs over 3.1 innings in his first begin on Aug. 3 in Miami, however he was a lot better towards the Astros final weekend. He held Houston to 2 earned runs whereas strolling one and hanging out seven over 5.1 frames.
Gil will look to construct on that outing on Friday, whereas additionally sparking a reminder of Jimenez.
