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Luis Gil is still at least a month and likely more away from the real thing, but Saturday morning he climbed the mound at Yankee Stadium and faced hitters for the first time since spring training. 

In a significant step in his rehab from a high-grade lat strain, Gil threw about 20 pitches of live batting practice and came out of it feeling encouraged about his road back to the Yankees rotation. 

“I felt really good out there,” Gil said through an interpreter before the Yankees beat the Orioles 9-0. “It’s been a process. You heal little by little. Felt good to get on the mound and face some hitters.” 

Even in a best-case scenario, Gil may not make his season debut until early August given how methodical the Yankees have been with his buildup. But the reigning AL Rookie of the Year could deliver a big boost to the Yankees if he comes back healthy and looks like himself after the trade deadline. 

“Fortunately, after the [injury], it’s been a slow buildup but it’s gone well every step of the way,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So that’s been encouraging. Now we start to build. Build lives, pitch counts and then eventually getting into rehab games. Definitely another important box to check.” 

Gil likely will throw at least a few more live batting practice sessions before going out on a rehab assignment to build his pitch count.

The Yankees typically like their rehabbing pitchers to get to 75-80 pitches before they take them back, though Boone left the door open for that to change depending on what their needs are by the time Gil is close to ready. 

On Saturday, with the Yankees “non-regulars” all in the starting lineup against the Orioles, Gil faced bullpen catcher Peter Serruto and information coordinator Ryan McLaughlin, both former players, and struck them out two times each. 

“I think the process has been very good,” Gil said. “But your mentality has to be very strong in order to go through it and keep a strong mindset through the long time off the field. But that has always been the focus, to go through it and get back as soon as possible.” 

JT Brubaker made his Yankees debut Saturday — and his first big league outing since October 2022 — giving up the Orioles’ only hit of the day in the eighth inning but tossing two scoreless frames. 

Brubaker underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and then fractured three ribs this spring, delaying his return. 

“A lot [of emotions],” he said. “The journey’s been long. Lot of adversity. Really, the love of the game is what kept me going. … The road to get back to the big league mound was the goal. I can say that I did it.” 

Given that the Yankees are in a stretch of 16 games in 16 days and have had to lean heavily on their bullpen, Boone said going to the fresh Brubaker was an easy call despite the no-hit bid going on. 

“Any time I toe the rubber, I don’t want to give up a hit,” Brubaker said. “That’s always the goal. It happened to be that there was the no-hitter going. Unfortunate 3-2 pitch that I left in the middle of the plate and Gary [Sánchez] hit it into center.” 

Yerry de los Santos underwent tests on his right elbow Thursday that provided relatively good news. 

“Nothing acute or new,” Boone said. “Hopefully, he’s into throwing here in pretty short order.”