Cam Schlittler
American baseball player (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cameron John Schlittler (born February 5, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Northeastern Huskies and was selected by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2025. Schlittler was named to his first All-Star game in 2026.
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| Cam Schlittler | |
|---|---|
Schlittler with the Somerset Patriots in 2025 | |
| New York Yankees – No. 31 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 5, 2001 Walpole, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 9, 2025, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics (through September 24, 2026) | |
| Win–loss record | 18–9 |
| Earned run average | 2.23 |
| Strikeouts | 323 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Career
Amateur career
Schlittler attended Walpole High School in Walpole, Massachusetts,[1] and Northeastern University, where he played college baseball for the Northeastern Huskies. In 2021, he was named the Coastal Athletic Association's rookie of the year and a freshman All-American.[2] He then played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] For Northeastern, Schlittler had a 14–9 win–loss record with a 2.62 earned run average (ERA) and 180 strikeouts across 182 innings pitched in 31 games, 30 of which were games started.[2] His fastball typically averaged 92–93 miles per hour (148–150 km/h) while playing for the Huskies.[4]
Minor leagues
The New York Yankees selected Schlittler in the seventh round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6] He signed with the Yankees, receiving a $205,000 signing bonus.[7]
Schlittler spent his first professional season in 2023 with the Florida Complex League Yankees, Tampa Tarpons, and Hudson Valley Renegades. He started 2024 with Hudson Valley and was promoted to the Somerset Patriots during the season and pitched one game with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. That season, he was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.[8] By the end of the 2024 season, his fastball averaged 93 miles per hour (150 km/h).[4]
During spring training in 2025, Schlittler's fastball averaged 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[4] He started the 2025 season with Double-A Somerset before earning a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June.[9][10][11] He made five starts for the RailRiders.[12]
Major leagues
2025
A season-ending injury to Clarke Schmidt caused the Yankees to promote Schlittler to the major leagues on July 9, 2025.[12] In his MLB debut, Schlittler earned a win over the Seattle Mariners after throwing 5+1⁄3 innings with four hits and three earned runs allowed while striking out seven. His fastest pitch was 100 mph (160 km/h), the fastest thrown by a Yankee pitcher all season.[13] Schlittler had a 4–3 win–loss record with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts for the Yankees,[14] while striking out 84 batters in 73 innings pitched.[15]
Schlittler started Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, earning the win by pitching eight innings and striking out a then career high 12 batters while allowing five hits and no runs as the Yankees advanced to the 2025 American League Divisional Series (ALDS). He became the first pitcher in postseason history with 8+ scoreless innings, 12+ strikeouts, and no walks.[16] Schlittler went on to lose the deciding game of the ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays. [17]
2026
In 2026, Schlittler emerged as the ace on the Yankees roster while Gerrit Cole was recovering from Tommy John surgery. On June 19, he set a new career high with 13 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds.[18] His 1.71 ERA through 16 starts was the lowest for a Yankee since Whitey Ford in 1964.[19] Although selected as an All-Star and expected to start the game, Schlittler opted not to risk pitching off of his normal schedule.[20]
On August 28 against the Boston Red Sox, Schlittler recorded his 200th strikeout. He became the fifth pitcher in 2026 and the fourth-youngest Yankee to do so.[21] On September 2, after another dominant start against the Angels, Schlittler passed Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, and Jack Chesbro tied record for the most number of starts with 1 run or less, with 19 at that point.[22]
Schlittler's final ERA of 1.95 led the league and was the third-best in franchise history (since it became an official statistic in 1913). His 239 strikeouts was tied for fourth-most.[23] In 22 of his starts, one run or fewer was allowed - a team record,[24] surpassing the 18 by Ron Guidry in 1978.[25]
After some speculation, manager Aaron Boone chose Schlittler as the opening-game starter against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series.[26]
Pitching style
Schlittler throws a mix of 5 pitches. He primarily throws a mix of three fastballs, with a four-seam fastball being his most common, followed by a cutter, and then a sinker. Along with the three fastballs, he also throws a curveball and, rarely, a slider.[27] His four-seam averages around 98 MPH but can go as high as 100. His sinker is slightly slower, followed by the cutter, with his off-speed pitches clocking in at around 85-90 MPH. As all three of his fastballs start at the same point, he tunnels well, resulting in a large percentage of whiffs with many of his strikeouts being high heat, or in other words elevated above the strike zone.[28]
Personal life
Schlittler's father, John, is the chief of police for Needham, Massachusetts.[29] Schlittler is an avid fan of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League; he is named after Bruins legend Cam Neely.[30] He grew up a fan of the Boston Red Sox.[31]