Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut
Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night,
pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory
before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd.
'Obviously, it's been my goal my whole life,' Schlittler said. 'I don't think I've really processed it yet.'
One of the team's top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York's seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year.
But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone.
'You see his stuff really plays,' Boone said. 'I see a lot of potential.'
Boone called it 'a great first step' and said Schlittler will get another big league start, likely after the All-Star break.
'He was sick,' said Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who homered twice and drove in four runs.
Schlittler was called up from Triple-A to pitch in place of
injured Clarke Schmidt
, who is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that would sideline him for the rest of this season and much of next year.
So there's a genuine opportunity for Schlittler to stick in the rotation for a Yankees squad trying to catch Toronto atop the AL East.
'Obviously, just trying to get the first one under my belt and then whatever happens. I'm just fortunate that they gave me that opportunity,' Schlittler said. 'Just take it day by day and see what happens.'
Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Schlittler gave up three runs and four hits — including solo homers by J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco.
The 24-year-old right-hander walked his first batter but settled down quickly and froze Raleigh, the major league home run leader, with a 100 mph heater for his first strikeout in the opening inning.
'He was nasty,' Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez said.
That baseball was one of two sitting in Schlittler's locker after the game, both keepsakes inscribed and encased above the Yankees' championship belt for the night.
Schlittler said the strikeout ball will probably end up in his room back home eventually, but first he planned to give it to his parents.
'I know they'll cherish that,' he said.
Schlittler, who walked two, ending his outing with another strikeout of Raleigh before leaving with a 6-2 lead in the sixth to a standing ovation as his parents hugged in the Yankee Stadium stands.
Schlittler was born in Massachusetts but said he always wanted to play for the Yankees. They selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft from Northeastern in Boston, right in the heart of rival Red Sox country.
The pitcher said his girlfriend and cousin were on hand in addition to plenty of friends, and he left 23 tickets for his supporters. But he said he wasn't all that nervous come gametime.
'I think probably had more jitters this morning, honestly,' Schlittler said. 'I know my dad just in general gets more nervous than I do when I throw.'
___
AP MLB:
https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
26 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Francesco Molinari brings experience of successful match vs. Tiger Woods to Europe's Ryder Cup team
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Francesco Molinari, who earned the decisive half point against Tiger Woods the last time Europe won a Ryder Cup in the United States, is back as a vice captain on Luke Donald's team for September's event at Bethpage Black in New York. The Italian joins his brother, Edoardo, Thomas Bjørn and Jose Maria Olazabal as vice captains this year. All four were also vice captains under Donald in 2023 when Europe won the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone outside Rome. In 2018, Francesco Molinari became the first European player to win all five of his matches in a Ryder Cup as Bjorn's team triumphed at Le Golf National in Paris. Earlier that year, he won the British Open at Carnoustie, becoming Italy's first major champion. 'It is going to be a big challenge at Bethpage,' Francesco Molinari said in an announcement Monday. 'You just have to look at the stats to see how difficult it is to win the Ryder Cup away from home. It hasn't happened that often recently, so it is a big challenge but it is a big opportunity to try to do something that, if it does happen, will be remembered for a long, long time.' Molinari said he wants to 'transmit my experience' of when he faced Woods at Medinah in 2012 for Olazábal's squad. The victory became known as the 'Miracle at Medinah.' 'Medinah still has a special place in my memories, and in my heart, and I would be really happy and really proud to see this generation of players complete something like that,' Molinari said. Added Donald on Molinari, 'He knows how to win Ryder Cups, having been on three winning teams, and I think that's really important for us. We obviously have a tough task ahead of us trying to win away in New York. 'I think he brings a very calm head,' Donald said. 'He is someone who listens a lot and has good ideas. He speaks up when he feels like he needs to. I love his demeanour. He just doesn't seem to get too flustered. He doesn't seem to get too high or too low. I think that's going to be important in a place like New York, an away Ryder Cup.' The Ryder Cup is scheduled for Sept. 26-28. ___ AP golf: in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
A mix of youth and chemistry has Red Sox rolling into All-Star break on 10-game winning streak
BOSTON (AP) — Many of the Boston Red Sox players started wearing T-shirts during batting practice and in the clubhouse the past week with a quote from teammate Romy Gonzalez written across the front. It says: 'Tremendously locked in.' They certainly look that way heading into the All-Star break. On Sunday, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run homer and the Red Sox (53-45) posted their 10th straight victory with a 4-1, series-sweeping win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. 'There's two things: We're young and we're athletic and that doesn't slump to be honest with you,' said manager Alex Cora, who reminded some of his younger players to lead with energy in late May. 'I talked to some of the kids in Atlanta and their job is to, of course, play as hard as you can,' he said. 'I told them: 'There's no excuse for you guys not bringing the energy every single day. It starts in the clubhouse with the music.'' The 24-year-old Rafaela has joined three rookies: infielder Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Carlos Narváez to give the Red Sox a jolt of successful youth leading them into the break. Following a series-opening loss in New York on June 6, the Red Sox dropped to 10 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. Now, just over a month later, they're a game behind them for second place, trailing the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays. 'It's been fun the last 10 days,' said Rafaela, who is hitting .421 with five homers and 15 RBIs during a career-best 10-game hitting streak. 'Yes, we've been winning and it's always good to win,' he said. 'I think it's the most fun I've (ever) had.' Veteran Trevor Story, who had struggled during three-injury plagued seasons with the Red Sox after signing a six-year, $140-million contract as a free agent in March 2022, has picked it up by playing solid defense at short with timely hitting. 'We're playing well,' Cora said. 'Trevor and Rafaela have been amazing.' The streak comes less than a month after Boston shipped Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Story sees the club believing it has finally found its stride. 'I think we have more of an identity now,' he said. 'We're starting to believe that I think we can win in different ways. Like we've shown in this 10-gamer, we can slug, or we can win one-run games, we can steal bases. I think playing good defense is a good part of that. I think it all starts with the pitching, which has been lights out.' 'Yeah, energy, chemistry,' Cora said. 'Winning's better that losing. We're excited about going to the ballpark.' ___
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jannik Sinner wanted to win Wimbledon but he really needed to beat Carlos Alcaraz
LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner needed this victory. He wanted to win Wimbledon, of course, and it would have meant a lot to him no matter who the opponent was in the final. That this championship, his fourth at a Grand Slam tournament, came via a win over Carlos Alcaraz made it all the more significant to Sinner — and to the future of their burgeoning rivalry, the best men's tennis has to offer these days and, perhaps, for many years to come. 'It is important, for sure,' the No. 1-ranked Sinner said Sunday night after prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against No. 2 Alcaraz, 'because when you lose several times against someone, it's not easy.' Sinner had lost five matches in a row against Alcaraz, none more disheartening than the one they played last month in the French Open final. Sinner grabbed a two-set lead in that one, then held a trio of championship points, before losing in five sets after 5 hours, 29 minutes. 'I keep looking up to Carlos, because even today, I felt like he was doing couple of things better than I did,' Sinner said. 'So that's something ... we will work on and prepare ourselves, because he's going to come for us again.' Perhaps as soon as at the U.S. Open, which starts in New York on Aug. 24 and where Sinner is the defending champion. They will be seeded No. 1 and No. 2 again, so could only meet there in another final. Alcaraz won the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2022, beginning a stretch in which he and Sinner have combined to win nine of the past 12 majors. That includes the last seven, leaving zero doubt that these two young guys — Sinner is 23, Alcaraz is 22 — have pushed themselves way past everyone else in the game at the moment. 'I'm just really, really happy about having this rivalry with him. It's great for us, and it is great for tennis. Every time we play against each other, our level is really high,' Alcaraz said. 'We don't (see) a level like this, if I'm honest with you. I don't see any (other players) playing against each other (and) having the level that we are playing when we face each other.' Both serve well, although Sinner was better at that Sunday. Both return well, although, again, Sinner was superior over these particular three hours. Both cover the court exceedingly well — Alcaraz is faster; Sinner has a bigger reach and is a better slider. Both hit the ball so, so hard — Alcaraz is more prone to the spectacular; Sinner is as pure and consistent a ball-striker as there is. And so on. One other contrast, usually, is that Alcaraz shows emotion, whether via yells of 'Vamos!' or the sort of point-to-his-ear-then-pump-his-fist celebration he did after winning Sunday's opening set by stretching and reaching low for a cross-court backhand to close a 12-stroke point. Sinner is far more contained. Even his arm-raised victory poses are mild-mannered. Sunday, though, there were more visible displays. He even shouted 'Let's go!' after one point. Later, he shook his racket overhead while the crowd roared after a well-struck backhand. When he took a set with a forehand winner, Sinner held a pose, then lifted a fist. When the match was over, he crouched, lowered his head and pounded his right palm on the grass five times. 'You saw a bit more energy from him in the big moments," said one of Sinner's coaches, Darren Cahill, "and a bit more focus to knuckle down and make sure that, when he had his nose in front, that he kept on closing the door against Carlos.' Both players spoke about their matchup motivating them to work hard to try to improve. 'It gives me the opportunity to just give my 100% every practice, every day. Just to be better, thanks to that,' said Alcaraz, who won the past two Wimbledon titles and was 5-0 in Grand Slam finals before Sunday. 'The level that I have to maintain, and I have to raise, if I want to beat Jannik is really high.' ___
