BREAKING NEWS: The Yankees have excellent grounds to support star player in his bid to win Rookie of Year over Luis Gil.

As of now, betting odds suggest that Luis Gil and Austin Wells are leading the American League Rookie of the Year race. The New York Yankees would be thrilled to see either of their promising young players win the award, but they would prefer Wells due to the MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) program.

The PPI was introduced in the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to incentivize teams to promote their top prospects at the start of the season by offering compensatory draft picks. If Wells wins Rookie of the Year, he would meet the criteria for this incentive, while Gil would not.

 

 

 

 

Basically, being a consensus top-100 prospect on an Opening Day roster is the baseline for becoming PPI-eligible. Then, that player must spend their entire rookie campaign in the MLB and earn consideration for a “major award.” Thanks to a single minor league start earlier this year, Gil doesn’t net the Yankees an additional asset if voters favor him over Wells.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles received the 31st and 32nd overall picks in this year’s draft for meeting PPI requirements. This strategy seems to benefit the Yankees as they watch Wells compete with his teammate.

With New York’s prospect pool lacking high-end players outside of outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, the competition between Wells and Gil carries significant weight. While the Yankees may not show favoritism, it’s likely on the minds of the front office.

 

 

Gil has been impressive for the Yankees in 2024, arguably their most reliable starter in a rotation led by Gerrit Cole. He boasts a 14-6 record with a 3.14 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 161 strikeouts over 27 starts.

On the other hand, Wells has established himself as New York’s everyday catcher. The 25-year-old is hitting .246/.333/.425 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs, and his defense has surpassed expectations, enhancing his value.

In the end, having two players vying for Rookie of the Year honors is a positive situation for the Yankees. It signals a promising future for the team, although Wells winning the award would have its own advantages.