David Ortiz is giving some serious recognition, and it’s aimed at a rising star in the Bronx.
The former Yankees adversary lauded rookie Cam Schlitler for his impressive performance during Game 3 of the wildcard round against the Red Sox on Thursday.
“The first time I saw him pitch, I thought, ‘They’ve got another ace,'” Ortiz shared. “He’s got it, you know? He really does.”
Schlitler’s playoff debut was nothing short of spectacular, completing eight innings with five hits and striking out one.
“There are many routes to success here,” Yankees ace Gerrit Cole remarked after the game. “But this guy, he stepped up fast. He has… ‘that.’ I can’t quite put it into words. But he has it.”
With this dominating performance, the team secured a spot in the AL Division Series against the top-seeded Blue Jays, even though they started the series with a tough 10-1 loss up north in Toronto.
On the other side, the Yankees faced a challenging opponent, as Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman silenced their lineup for 5 2/3 innings.
However, Max’s friends are set to take the mound for Game 2 on Sunday, so there’s a sense of hope among Yankees fans as the series heads back to the Bronx.
“Today was obviously rough, but tomorrow, we’ll have the chance to tie it up,” said shortstop Anthony Volpe after the loss.
If the Yankees manage to pull off a win, Schlitler will have another shot to really dazzle Ortiz.
He’s already pitched against the Blue Jays twice, allowing two runs over five innings back on July 22, and then had a tougher outing, giving up four runs in just one inning on September 5.
