The Yankees’ bullpen competition got a bit more real Sunday morning, when two competitors were in the clubhouse (albeit only one because he was activated).

Luis Gil was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as a reliever capable of some length while Clarke Schmidt was around the club and feeling strong following his first game of a rehab assignment.

Both are possibilities for an October bullpen whose spots are fairly wide open. David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick and Tim Hill will be on the playoff roster, presuming health. Otherwise, the Yankees have a sea of pitchers on the 40-man roster with at least the ability to pitch their way into relevance, a group that includes Gil, Schmidt, current bullpen members Michael Fulmer and Ryan Yarbrough, potential conversion candidates Elmer Rodríguez and Will Warren, the just-optioned Yerry De los Santos and the sidelined Angel Chivilli and Ryan Weathers.

Gil will get a chance to show that he belongs both on the roster and in important innings in his first look at the major league level since April.

The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year has dealt with several injuries since he was a surprise top-line starter, the most recent right shoulder inflammation that cost him about three months. He began a rehab assignment on Aug. 11 and made his way to SWB, with whom he pitched three times, went as long as two innings and in total threw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits and three walks while striking out six.

The walks have always been an issue for Gil, but the bigger issue as his effectiveness sunk was reduced velocity. His fastball routinely lived in the upper-90s in 2024, when his four-seamer averaged 96.6 mph. In his four April starts this year in which he posted a 6.05 ERA, that pitch averaged 95 mph.

The Yankees recalled Luis Gil for Sunday’s game. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

During his SWB stint as a reliever, Gil’s fastball averaged 96.1 mph.

Given the stuff the club has seen in the past, Boone referenced Gil’s “very high ceiling.”

“He’s been through a lot the last couple of years just with some different injuries and kind of trying to re-find that magic a little bit,” Boone said before finishing a series with the Red Sox in The Bronx. “I feel like he’s in a pretty good place right now and hopefully he can come up here and be a factor and play a role for us.”

Clarke Schmidt (r.) throws in the outfield at Yankee Stadium as assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne (l.) looks on, on Aug. 21, 2026. Getty Images

Schmidt figures to be the next entry into the bullpen competition. Rehabbing from 2025 Tommy John surgery, the 30-year-old took a meaningful step Saturday when he pitched professionally again, throwing 20 pitches (16 strikes) with Double-A Somerset.

“It felt great,” said Schmidt, who faced four batters, struck out a pair and allowed a triple and home run. “Obviously it’s been a long process, so to be able to get back out and compete on the field is good and kind of get some jitters out and pitch in front of a crowd was a lot of fun.”

Schmidt will continue with the rehab assignment and believed he next pitches Wednesday. The Yankees have seen Schmidt be a solid starter and would love to see the righty demonstrate, on the other side of surgery, that his stuff is still intact and can play up in shorter bullpen bursts.

“Obviously you pitch a little bit different when you’re in that [reliever] role. You can kind of let it eat a little bit,” said Schmidt, who likely will not be used in a back-to-back. “You can kind of step on the gas a little bit more.”