Rising up in Walpole, Mass., Cam Schlittler naturally rooted for the Pink Sox.
With Fenway Park roughly 45 minutes from residence, Schlittler idolized gamers like David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. As pitching turned a severe profession alternative, Schlittler paid nearer consideration to Pink Sox hurlers like Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck.
He additionally gravitated towards Boston’s fiercest rival over time. The Yankees reciprocated, utilizing a seventh-round decide on the Northeastern product in 2022.
“When it came to baseball and the pitching side of it, the Yankees were always where I wanted to be,” Schlittler stated. “Before the draft, they were very interested in me, and I was very interested in them. When it came to my career, this is where I wanted be.”
Requested about being a Sox fan, he burdened, “I’m not anymore.”
Nowadays, Schlittler locks onto Gerrit Cole, because the 24-year-old, thought-about the Yankees’ 14th-best farmhand by Baseball America, is attending his first huge league camp. He doesn’t wish to be the pesky prospect who bugs veterans, however Schlittler has made it a degree to review how Cole throws, warms up and goes about his enterprise.
The correct-handed Schlittler has additionally picked Mark Leiter Jr.’s mind. Leiter throws a splitter, a pitch Schlittler is engaged on including to an arsenal that additionally features a mid-90s fastball, an enormous curveball, a sweeping slider and a cutter.
“He’s a big split guy,” Schlittler stated, “so he was a good guy to have a conversation with to just casually get an opinion on what he thinks and let me know what I should do with that pitch.”
Schlittler spent nearly all of final season at Excessive-A, recording a 2.60 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 17 begins and 86.2 innings. His numbers dipped a bit at Double-A, the place he posted a 4.45 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 32.1 innings. Schlittler additionally made a one-game look at Triple-A, permitting 4 earned runs over 1.2 innings.
Schlittler has seemed sharp thus far this spring, although, first turning heads final week throughout dwell batting apply. The session noticed Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Volpe and DJ LeMahieu strike out.
Schlittler shined once more on Sunday, putting out two whereas holding the Tigers to at least one hit and one stroll over two scoreless innings.
Cam Schlittler is likely one of the #Yankees prime pitching prospects, and he seemed NASTY in his two scoreless innings of labor 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QS9IP1kOiA
Requested what he’s considered Schlittler thus far, Aaron Boone replied, “Easy for you to say,” a nod to a reputation that would sound like a swear if not pronounced fastidiously.
Then got here the supervisor’s evaluation.
“He’s been good. He’s definitely opened some eyes. I know a lot of guys were excited about seeing him out there [Sunday]. Thought he got better as he went. Lives have been really good,” Boone stated of the 6-6 pitcher. “He gets your attention with his stuff, and obviously being tall, lanky, long-levered creates some angle on you. So I’ve been encouraged with what we’ve seen so far.”
There are nonetheless a number of weeks left in spring coaching, however Schlittler has offered himself as a prospect value listening to this yr.
He’s unsure what degree he’ll be assigned to at first of the season, however he hopes to maneuver up the ranks rapidly. In fact, seeing him debut as quickly as this season would doubtless require some accidents to different pitchers, nevertheless it’s straightforward to see Schlittler’s repertoire enjoying within the majors within the not-to-distant future.
“I’m pretty confident in myself,” Schlittler stated of his 2025 outlook. “Part of the reason for being here is to get my feet wet a little bit, learn the ropes and see how it goes. Wherever I start this year, I obviously need to perform, compete, be consistent and stay healthy. And then whatever happens with that happens.”
Initially Revealed: February 25, 2025 at 9:55 AM EST
