New York Yankees rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler showed he isn’t afraid of the big stage.
This 24-year-old pitcher from Walpole Massachusetts, would, in an incredible story, go from starting the season in Double A to months later being the toast of New York after a dominant pitching performance on October 2nd during a decisive 4-0 Game 3 American League Wild Card win against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Schlittler, who back on July 9th made his MLB debut, wrote some baseball history on this night by becoming the first rookie pitcher in playoff history to record 12 strikeouts and not walk a batter which he did over eight dominant innings.
“I woke up and I was locked in,” Schlittler said. “I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy (Pettitte) yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”
Selected in the 2022 MLB draft, seventh round by the Yankees, Schlittler, who went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 84 strikeouts on the season, was the story on this night as he also set another Yankees franchise playoff record with 12 strikeouts which surpassed the previous record holders in Red Ruffling who struck out 10 batters during Game 1 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs and pitcher Dave Righetti who in 1981 struck out 10 during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“You feel dominant out there,” Schlittler said about his performance. “I didn’t really know how many strikeouts I was at, but it’s a good feeling, being able to put those guys away.”
Showing to excel on the October stage, Schlittler threw 107 pitches and only yielded five singles.
Pitcher Cam Schlittler Dominates in Yankees Game 3 AL Wild Card Win
Injured Yankees Ace Pitcher Gerrit Cole Impressed With Schlittler’s Performance
As baseball fans know, New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole knows a thing or tow about pitching. Cole, who sat out the season after Tommy John Surgery, has since his call-up been extremely impressed with Schlittler’s performance and believes the Yankees have a potential star on their hands.
“It’s super impressive,” Cole said about Schlittler’s Game 3 performance. “There are different paths to greatness up here, but this guy has come up and delivered right away. He’s got it. I don’t know exactly what it is; it’s hard to define it. But he’s got it. …
He’s got an idea of what he wants to do.”
Red Sox Fans Harassing Schlittler’s Family
Following the game, Schlittler expressed his feelings about Red Sox fans crossing the line by comments made on social media to his family.
One example was a Red Sox fan harassing the pitcher’s mother on her account before she changed it from public to private.
“Some of the bigger accounts they got over there, I was able to see, unfortunately,” Schlittler said. “I don’t really check my phone much before the game, but there was some stuff that was brought to my attention. Don’t need to give them the attention they’re looking for, but just channel it and made sure I took it the right way.”
Ironically enough, Schlittler grew up a huge Red Sox fan, and his friends are Red Sox fans. However, that all changed after donning the pin stripes. You can bet that taking part in this historic rivalry and eliminating the Red Sox was extra special for this up-and-coming star pitcher.
“People from Boston had a lot to say before the game,” Schlittler said. “For me, just being a silent killer, being able to go out there and shut them down—I’m from Boston. I didn’t like some of the things they were saying today. I was just making sure I was going out there and extra locked in.”
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
