Luis Gil has faced hitters for the first time since straining his right lat in spring training. He threw about 20 pitches in a session New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone described as “free and easy” on Saturday.

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

In a stretch of more than a week with few positives, the Yankees got one Saturday morning before they faced the Orioles. Luis Gil was back on the Yankee Stadium mound throwing to hitters.