Luis Gil faced hitters for the first time since straining his right lat in spring training, throwing about 20 pitches in a session New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone described on Saturday as "free and easy."
About two hours before the Yankees continued their three-game series with Baltimore, Gil notched four strikeouts - three swinging. Since several of the backups who would take part in live sessions were in the lineup, Gil threw to bullpen catcher Peter Serruto and information coordinator Ryan McLaughlin.
"I felt it looked really good," Boone said. "I think he was 95, 96. It looked every bit of that, looked like it. Just the metrics on the four-seam were really good and I thought he was in control of himself. So free and easy."
The Yankees are unsure of how many more times Gil will face hitters before progressing to a rehab game. Boone is hopeful the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year can return by the end of July.
"I felt really good out there," Gil said through a translator. "It's been a long process. You heal little by little. It felt good to get on the mound to face some hitters."