Cam Schlittler experienced what some consider to be a remarkable debut in Major League Baseball’s postseason.
Just a day after achieving 12 strikeouts across eight innings pitched against the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees newcomer described some of the driving factors that influenced his performance in such a significant game of the rivalry.
According to reports from The Athletic and the Associated Press, Schlittler mentioned that certain Red Sox supporters had been directing unwelcome messages on social media towards his family, including his mother. He asserted that this negativity was indeed a motivator while he was pitching. Ultimately, he and his family enjoyed a satisfying outcome:
“They were attempting to unsettle me, but I felt they overstepped their bounds a bit,” Schlittler stated on Friday. “In the end, they don’t have much to say now.”
Schlittler had hinted the prior evening at having underlying “personal” reasons for his strong performance.
Here’s a bit of context: Schlittler was born in Walpole, Massachusetts, a location less than 20 miles from the center of Boston. He attended Northeastern University, which is also nearby, and continues to reside in that area during the offseason. He and his family were traditionally Red Sox enthusiasts until the Yankees selected him during the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
As a result, some of the online negativity directly affected the 24-year-old. His circle of friends includes many Red Sox fans who, according to the AP, showed him support despite the implications for their team:
“They’re pleased for me,” he noted. “Clearly, they’re also disappointed. They’re all supporters of the Red Sox. I did warn them that this outcome was likely. They’ll recover. Hockey and basketball seasons are approaching, so I imagine they will find other distractions.”
Schlittler also responded to some of the online accounts on Friday, pointing out his outstanding start in his professional career:
While this might not be the last encounter between Schlittler and the Red Sox, he and the Yankees are more immediately concerned with their ALDS matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays. Schlittler is expected to start in Game 4, if necessary, at Yankee Stadium.
The situation presents a surprising change for a pitcher who, just a couple of years earlier, wasn’t seen as a top prospect. In 2024, Schlittler wasn’t even included in MLB Pipeline’s list of the top 30 Yankees prospects. However, substantial increases in his velocity have propelled him from Double-A to a spot in a playoff rotation this year.
