From Northeastern to New York: Cam Schlittler’s Unexpected Yankee Breakthrough

The New York Yankees’ 2025 season has been a story of highs and lows. At the center of it all, captain Aaron Judge is putting together another MVP-caliber campaign, ranking second in the American League with 40 home runs and 93 RBIs.

Judge has not carried the weight alone, as Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm, and Ben Rice have all delivered breakout, All-Star-level performances to keep New York in the playoff hunt all year.

But for every strength, there has been a weakness. Defensively, the Yankees rank eighth in errors (75), with shortstop Anthony Volpe sitting second among all fielders with 17. On the mound, the staff has been inconsistent. Their 1,169 strikeouts rank third in baseball, but a 4.03 team ERA leaves them stuck in the middle of the pack at 17th.

With the rotation searching for stability, 24-year-old Cam Schlittler has stepped up and shown he has the talent to be more than just a temporary solution.

The Yankees may have struck gold in the later rounds of the 2022 draft. Seventh-round pick Cam Schlittler, a 6’6” right-hander out of Northeastern, has quickly emerged as one of the most reliable starters on the roster. Called up on July 9 to face the Seattle Mariners, Schlittler earned his first career win by going 5.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and striking out seven.

Since that debut, he has only improved. In July, Schlittler struck out 15 batters while allowing eight earned runs across 14.2 innings. He took another step forward in August, piling up 31 strikeouts in 27.2 innings while giving up only five earned runs. He has also not allowed a run since August 13 and has struck out eight batters in each of his last two outings.

Schlittler features a five-pitch mix: fastball, cutter, curveball, sinker, and sweeper. He leans heavily on his fastball, throwing it nearly 58 percent of the time. The pitch routinely reaches triple digits, setting up his sharp secondary stuff, including a curveball that drops in at 83 MPH and keeps hitters off balance.

During last night’s post-game interview, Schlittler was asked about the source of his velocity. 

“People can tell you what to do, but you have to be able to go do it when no one’s watching,” Schlittler said. “I put it on myself in the offseason, making sure I come into each Spring Training ready to go.”

Teammate Ben Rice also praised Schlittler’s work ethic after the game. 

“I remember the year he got drafted, he started in extended spring training. He was not a velocity guy by any means. To his credit, he put in the work, put his head down, put on weight, put on muscle. He made himself into a really good pitcher.”

What started as a midseason call-up has quickly turned into something bigger. Schlittler has given the Yankees exactly what they needed: a young, durable starter who can deliver quality innings every fifth day. With three tough series ahead against the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers, his ability to keep dominating could not only solidify his role in the rotation, but also help define New York’s playoff push.