TAMPA — A Key Performance for Lewis Hill

Friday’s spring training game was quite crucial for Lewis Hill, mainly because there remain some uncertainties about him this camp.

The Yankees right-hander certainly made a strong statement.

Hill showcased his dominance, delivering five scoreless innings against the Orioles and striking out seven batters. His fastball appeared to have improved, reminiscent of his previous AL Rookie of the Year performance.

“That was just 2024 Lewis Hill,” said a grinning Aaron Boone after their 3-1 victory at Steinbrenner Field. “Slowly but surely over spring, we saw a bit of improvement, but we had yet to see it fully. Hopefully, that’s a sign of great things to come for him, because that’s what he’s capable of.”

Hill started strong, averaging 96.8 mph with his fastball. That’s a noted increase of over 1 mph from earlier in spring and an improvement of more than 1.5 mph from 2025, even hitting a peak of 98.8 mph, which resulted in three strikeouts.

The boost in speed and performance could be linked to his focused bullpen session on Wednesday, where he practiced improving his release point. This adjustment allowed him to deceive the hitters better—clearly, it paid off.

After struggling with fastball swings in his previous outings and much of last season following a lat injury, he regained some of that lost effectiveness on Friday, registering five whiffs on 23 swings against his pitches.

“Now I feel as close as ever,” he expressed through an interpreter, referencing the 2024 version of himself. “I feel ready for a long season.”

The Yankees have some decisions to make regarding Hill’s future. He also exhibited a new sinker that he continues to develop.

Currently, the organization is deliberating whether to go with a four-man or five-man rotation. With a few off days in the early part of the season, there’s room to consider the former option.

If they decide on four starters, either Hill or Ryan Weathers may find themselves in a backup role or sent to Triple-A within the season’s first couple of weeks.

However, Hill certainly made an impression.

“I’ve always wanted to see that from him,” Boone noted. “He commanded their respect with his fastball, which translated to better play from other players.”