Yankees’ Rookie Pitcher Shines in Wild Card Series
In Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, a crowd of 48,833 fans watched as rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler delivered an impressive performance, leading the Yankees to an ALDS berth with eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox. It was a standout moment for Schlittler, who was first noticed by Yankees scout Matt Hyde during his time at Boston’s Northeastern University.
After the game, Hyde expressed his excitement, saying, “He was great. I can’t believe it. He answered the call, and it was fun to watch. Surreal.” The Yankees had drafted Schlittler in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, and he made quite the impression during spring training before beginning the season in Double-A Somerset.
Schlittler rapidly climbed the ranks, moving to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and making his MLB debut on July 9. He seemed surprised by his success but delivered exceptionally on Thursday night. “It was amazing to do that, especially against Boston,” Hyde reflected.
In fact, Schlittler became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw at least eight scoreless innings while striking out at least 12 batters without issuing a walk, all while setting a franchise record for most strikeouts in postseason history. He allowed just five hits—with all being singles—during his impressive 107-pitch outing.
After six innings, he had thrown 89 pitches, as Fernando Cruz warmed up in the bullpen. Despite having reached 100 pitches by the end of the seventh, Yankees manager Aaron Boone kept him in for the eighth inning. During this time, Hyde found himself rooting for Schlittler to continue his performance. “In those circumstances, I’m a fan,” he admitted. “So I’m saying, ‘Continue chasing it.’ He looked very good.”
Originally from Walpole, Massachusetts, Schlittler received a standing ovation from the crowd after the seventh inning. “It was so much fun to watch,” Hyde noted. “It felt like a playoff atmosphere at Yankee Stadium against Boston. He kept his composure, came back to the dugout, and went about his business.”
This 24-year-old’s contributions have been significant for the Yankees since his midseason arrival, and he definitely made a lasting impression in October.
As Aaron Judge remarked, “People want to trade for big names, especially with the Yankees, but to develop someone like Cam through the minor leagues? That’s special.”
