Yankees’ Lewis Gill Shows Promise on the Mound

In terms of pitching potential as the season progresses, Lewis Gill might just be the Yankees’ biggest wildcard.

On Sunday, he offered a glimpse of his capabilities. Despite the Yankees losing to the White Sox 3-2, Gill delivered a solid performance. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven and issuing two walks, both on four pitches.

“We’re still finding it,” said manager Aaron Boone. “It’s a crafty outing where he’s working on his delivery and trying to stay in the zone. He’s adjusting his fastball effectively, making a lot of good pitches and mostly limiting runners on base.”

“Hopefully, he can start building the commands and controls where they need to be,” Boone added.

Gill’s control has been an issue since he returned from the injured list, where he spent the first four months of the season due to tightness in his arm. In his recent outings, including Sunday’s, he intentionally started slow before ramping up his speed throughout the game.

“When you’re not walking batters, it feels like you can focus more and adjust your velocity,” Gill shared through an interpreter. “It helped me accomplish what I wanted in the strike zone.”

During the game, Gill gave up a couple of back-to-back doubles that allowed the White Sox to tie, but he quickly bounced back, retiring 10 consecutive batters within six innings before throwing a slider to Colson Montgomery.

Even though Gill hasn’t completed six innings in any of his starts so far, there’s a shared belief within the Yankees that he’s heading in the right direction. They’re just eager to see consistent results soon.

“I definitely feel more comfortable,” Gill mentioned. “I’m finding better grooves and attacking the zone more. All outings are getting me closer to where I was last year, and that’s what we’re aiming for.”

Meanwhile, Austin Slater struggled with an 0-2 on walks, playing six innings on right field during his second rehab game at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Boone indicated that Slater might need another game in the minors before the Yankees can activate him. Additionally, left-handed reliever Brent Headrick, who’s been sidelined with an arm issue, is now eligible to return. However, with Ryan Yarbra set to come back from the injured list soon, Headrick might return to Triple A once he’s ready.

On a lighter note, the Yankees traveled to Texas in style on Sunday, with several players—including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, and Jackson Dominguez—decked out in cowboy hats and boots for a playful homage to Trent Grisham.