Cam Schlitler Aims to Enhance Skills for 2026 Season

Cam Schlitler is eager to build on his rookie performance, looking ahead to the 2026 season with anticipation.

The right-handed pitcher for the Yankees mentioned on Wednesday that he’s considering adding either a changeup or a splitter to his pitching arsenal, although he seems to prefer the changeup.

Schlitler has a five-pitch repertoire but predominantly uses his fastball, which he threw about 55 percent of the time last year. Along with his fastballs, he turned to cutters 21 percent of the time and curves 15 percent.

“I think that adding a changeup might be a bit simpler than a splitter, so I’m leaning more toward the changeup,” Schlitler shared. He spoke on YES Network’s “Yankees Hot Stove.” “I really see this as a crucial pitch to have in order to combat left-handed hitters as well as right-handed ones.”

He also mentioned having started his training regimen three weeks ago, focusing on refining grips, with plans to ramp up his efforts in Tampa over the following weeks.

When asked about the shift in his pitch strategy, Schlitler acknowledged that while his fastball is still his strongest asset, a changeup or splitter would serve to “neutralize” specific game situations.

In his rookie season, Schlitler showed impressive statistics, posting a 2.96 ERA with 80 strikeouts over 73 innings, marking him as a standout player in the Yankees’ lineup for 2025.

His performance during Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox was particularly noteworthy, achieving a remarkable 12 strikeouts in just 8 innings, which stands out as one of the best not only for him personally but for the Yankees overall.

One of the things that helped keep him on track was addressing a pitch slant issue that arose during his game against the Blue Jays on September 5, where he faced 24 fouls out of 66 pitches.

With assistance from “guru” Gerrit Cole and fellow left-hander Carlos Rodon, Schlitler has altered his approach to pitching, particularly how he interacts with his glove during stretches. Additionally, changes were implemented in October to fine-tune his pitch delivery.

“Once the playoffs approached, I began preparing for a changeup, even though I didn’t have one at that point,” Schlitler mentioned. “I started practicing how to grip a changeup during my windup and stretches to avoid being locked into a single pitch.”