Amid recent tough times for the New York Yankees, more salt on the wound came in the form of an injury. Clarke Schmidt is out for the season, opening a spot in the rotation. It is expected that the Yankees will call up pitcher Cam Schlittler.
As if a losing streak and sweep by the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t hurt enough, the Yankees fell victim to long-term injury, creating a vacancy that needs attention as soon as possible.
The starting pitcher went in for forearm tightness, and likely has a tear to be fixed by Tommy John surgery. This will also carry into next season. Schlittler is hoping to be the answer; he’s the guy the Yankees are going to call on.
Yankees Prospect Profile: RHP Cam Schlittler
Schlittler is a starting pitcher in the Yankees’ farm system, and ranks 10th among the team’s top 30 prospects. The right-hander is currently with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders.
He attended Northeastern University in Boston. His first two seasons were mint, with an ERA below 1.90. His junior year was a bit shaky, going 5-8 with a 3.44 ERA.
This, unfortunately, lowered his draft stock and slot projectability. Schlittler was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Yankees.
Analysis and Synopsis
Schlittler is a physical kid, standing tall at 6’6” and 225 lbs in a slim-athletic form. He’s balanced from top to bottom with composure on the mound. Schlittler repeats his delivery well, and keeps his tempo consistent.
The right-hander works a four-pitch mix, led by a 60-rated four-seam fastball, followed by a curveball, slider, and changeup. The fastball has good life on it with good tail and cut, ranging between 94-96 mph, maxing at 98 mph.
Aaron Boone confirms to us that Cam Schlittler will start for the Yankees tomorrow, making his MLB debut pic.twitter.com/p67FIwMOX8
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 8, 2025
The curveball and slider both show good break and sweeping action. Both pitches are in the low to mid-80s. The slider may be the out-pitch, putting the curveball on the back burner. His changeup is his least-used pitch.
This pitch has a lot of depth when on, but can use more repetition to develop and make it workable.
His Expected Contribution to the Rotation
The right-handed prospect will offer exactly what the Yankees need in the interim. He will assume a starting role in the rotation, offering depth in innings and starts. In 2024, Schlittler finished with 120 2/3 innings.
In 2025, so far, Schlittler has 76 2/3 innings under his belt. His effectiveness in his repertoire has led to him being a strikeout-type pitcher who controls scenarios and locks counts. This season, Schlittler has struck out 99 batters, only walking 26.
His pitch-ability will force a good amount of groundouts and flyouts. He is currently 6-6 with a .500 record. Schlittler has a total 2.82 ERA with a 3.52 RA/9. The Yankees strongly need the dominance, and need the right-hander to push four to six innings of work before turning to the bullpen.
The prospect pitcher will make his major league debut on Wednesday. He will be entering a vulnerable time for the Yankees, and hopes are that he will perform. The Yankees are fighting for the American League East and need to find ways to string together wins.
Main Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
