Yankees trade Penfield’s Ziehl to White Sox

by TYLER HATHAWAY

The New York Yankees traded Penfield product and pitcher Gage Ziehl to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Austin Slater on Wednesday morning. Ziehl was drafted by the Yankees in the fourth round in 2024 and has pitched 74.1 innings in 14 starts this year in the minor leagues, mostly at the Single-A level.

Ziehl was previously drafted in the 2021 11th round by the Chicago Cubs after graduating high school. The right hander has posted a 5-4 record with an ERA of 4.15 with 70 strikeouts this year across the minor leagues. On July 26th, ZIehl made his debut at the High-A level with the Hudson Valley Renegades, and was named the winning pitcher after striking out three batters over four innings while only allowing one earned run.

The White Sox are acquiring Gage Ziehl in the Austin Slater trade, per @JackCurryYES.

Ziehl ranked 18th in our midseason Yankees Top 30.

(📽️: @SOMPatriots)pic.twitter.com/THf9D0lx6r

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 30, 2025

Ziehl is now one of two former Section V athletes in the White Sox farm system. Former Greece Athena standout and fellow 2024 fourth-round draft pick Casey Saucke II is a member of the White Sox Single A affiliate, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Saucke is currently sidelined with an injury. 

Previously to going pro, Ziehl was a First Team All-ACC performer at the University of Miami, finishing with a 5-3 record and two complete games his last year with the program in 2024, including a 15-strikeout performance against nationally-ranked Clemson. He logged 100 innings over 15 starts and compiled an ERA of 3.87 and 89 strikeouts.

The 2021 Prep Baseball Report NYS Player of the Year and Section V Class AA Player of the Year posted a 5-0 record and a save in leading Penfield to its first sectional title since 2012. Ziehl struck out 91 of the 135 batters he faced that season.  He allowed one run on 10 hits and seven walks to finish with an ERA of 0.17. Opposing batters hit .079 against him. At the plate, he hit .438 with eight extra-base hits including five home runs. He had an on-base percentage of .554 and OPS of 1.273.

Ziehl pitched 120 innings during his varsity career at Penfield. He struck out 202 batters while walking 27 and allowing 85 hits. He finished with an ERA of 0.875.