With 20 years of scouting expertise, Matt Hyde has helped dozens and dozens of baseball gamers flip professional. Just one, nonetheless, has stated thanks by treating Hyde to a meal after getting drafted.
That may be Cam Schlittler, who joined the Yankees as a seventh-round choose in June 2022. That October, the Northeastern product took Hyde to a late lunch at The Capital Grille in downtown Boston.
His first skilled contract already signed, Schlittler fortunately footed the invoice.
For Schlittler, the chunk was the least he might do for Hyde, because the scout had identified him since his teenaged years at Walpole Excessive College in Massachusetts.
The Yankees additionally owe Hyde – and vice chairman of home novice scouting Damon Oppenheimer — one, as Schlittler has quickly risen from an under-the-radar prospect to an integral determine on the membership’s main league roster this season.
Saturday’s begin in opposition to the White Sox might be simply the ninth of Schlittler’s younger profession, however Aaron Boone has already declared the 24-year-old “a future staple of our rotation.”
“I knew it was going to be really hard for our guys to trade him,” the supervisor stated, referring to the curiosity Schlittler acquired forward of final month’s commerce deadline. “I’m sure they would have had to have been overwhelmed with something. That’s how we view Cam.”
It’s simple to see why the Yankees are so keen on Schlittler, as his 2.76 ERA and 26.3 Okay% ranked second amongst all rookies with a minimum of 40 innings pitched by the top of his final begin on Aug. 25. He has but to permit greater than three earned runs in a recreation, and he’s held the Twins, Rays and Nationals to only one run over his final 17.2 innings.
On high of sturdy outcomes, Schlitter possesses tantalizing arm expertise, which pairs properly along with his 6-6, 225-pound body. With a fastball that averages 97.9 mph and touches 100 – he has dominated the Yankees’ velocity leaderboard– and a curveball that appears be getting sharper with every begin, Schlittler has regarded the a part of an influence pitcher.
“A lot of guys that throw 98, 99 nowadays, they throw a lot of their sliders and offspeed pitches and leave a lot of mistakes,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. stated. “I like how he’s super aggressive with his fastball, and he’s not afraid to throw it. I love it.”
Cam Schlittler has struck James Wooden out twice to this point tonight, as soon as with a 100.6-mph fastball and as soon as with a fairly curveball. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/xAJ991DDeI
The factor is, Schlittler wasn’t throwing this tough as just lately as spring coaching.
A primary-time invitee to massive league camp, he was sitting within the mid-90s and dealing with a noticeably completely different secondary arsenal only a few months in the past. Schlittler wasn’t a highly-touted prospect at that time, both, admitting that he “wasn’t really a name” earlier than impressing in camp, mastering Double-A and incomes promotions to Triple-A and the massive leagues.
“As a seventh-rounder, you’re not going to get that recognition,” Schlittler stated, although he insists he doesn’t care about being left off high prospect lists. “I’ve earned everything I’ve done.”
Schlittler, who thinks he’s a “completely different pitcher” than the one he was in spring coaching, stated his uptick in velocity stems from taking higher care of himself.
After prioritizing his mechanics in 2024, Schlittler dedicated to cleaner consuming and including sustainable muscle mass this previous offseason. With the assistance of the Yankees’ nutritionists, he placed on 15 kilos and reported to camp at 220 kilos. He concurrently diminished his physique fats.
As Schlittler constructed up on the mound and bought into the groove of the season, his newfound weight led to elevated velocity. In the meantime, his improved dietary habits have helped him keep recent and get well between begins.
“There’s guys that don’t focus on that, and you can see the results aren’t there,” stated Schlittler, who realized about work ethic from his police chief father, John. “When you’re mature sufficient and also you need it that unhealthy, you’re gonna put your self in one of the best place doable. I’ve no regrets. Even when I wasn’t [in the majors], I wouldn’t have any regrets over how a lot work I put on this 12 months.
Cam Schlittler (l.) and Matt Hyde (r.)
“Some other people in the minors, they probably wouldn’t be able to say the same.”
Boone stated that Schlittler has “physically matured a lot,” since he first bought to know him, which has allowed him to “ascend somewhat quietly and quickly.”
Schlittler’s new physique has additionally been obvious to Hyde, who remembers scouting a scrawnier expertise at Walpole Excessive.
“I think that guys develop at different stages,” Hyde stated. “He’s put on some really good strength and size since he was drafted by us.”
One factor Schlittler by no means lacked is self-assurance.
Whereas Boone has talked in regards to the neophyte’s “quiet confidence,” there have been occasions when it has appeared in daring style.
He simply believes in himself.
“I’ve always been confident,” Schlittler stated. “I feel like I’ve always been in a situation where I’ve had to prove myself a little more than certain guys.”
Different Yankees have observed that chip on Schlittler’s shoulder, in addition to the best way it motivates him.
“Cam’s got a great presence out there,” Ben Rice, one other Hyde discovery, stated after catching Schlittler’s final begin. “He’s a rough and tumble kind of guy, just a blue-collar attitude, a lot of poise out there. So it’s fun to watch.”
“He walks out there every game with a lot of confidence that he has the ability to get you out,” Boone added, “and he’s shown that so far.”
Regardless of having by no means pitched above Double-A earlier than this season, there’s now an opportunity that Schlittler should get guys out within the playoffs this October.
There’s nonetheless time for issues to vary, however the first-year professional has made a case to be the Yankees’ third postseason starter with the group at present positioned for a Wild Card spherical look. Different candidates embody Will Warren and Luis Gil with Max Fried and Carlos Rodón logical locks for the highest two spots.
“Hopefully we’re having that conversation down the road,” Boone stated.
Maybe the Yankees will determine in opposition to testing the inexperienced Schlittler in such an surroundings. That it’s even a subject of dialogue is a testomony to Schlittler’s demeanor and the progress he’s made in such a brief time frame, although.
“Our player development people get a ton of credit for the work they’ve done with him,” Hyde stated. “They really have helped him take some raw ability and made him into a major league starter. But I think the thing that we really did nail was Cam’s makeup.”
Initially Revealed: August 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM EDT
