The New York Yankees have had several pitchers step up this season, but none have sparked excitement like Cam Schlittler.
While Will Warren has quietly delivered stability, Schlittler’s rapid ascent from the minors to the majors has been breathtaking.
At just 24 years old, he’s gone from organizational depth to one of the most intriguing arms in the rotation.
The Yankees might have stumbled upon a pitcher who looks less like a stopgap and more like a long-term building block.
A meteoric climb through the system
Schlittler began 2025 in Double-A, where he logged 53 innings before earning a quick promotion to Triple-A.
He threw only 23.2 innings there before forcing the Yankees’ hand with his dominance, getting the call to the majors.
Since arriving, he’s posted a 2.61 ERA across 48.1 innings, flashing strikeout stuff and poise beyond his limited experience.
Few rookies climb this quickly, but Schlittler’s performance has made it impossible for New York to ignore his presence.
Dominance on the mound
In his last three starts, Schlittler has allowed just one earned run across 18.2 innings of work.
His strikeout rate sits at 10.06 per nine innings, showing his ability to miss bats against major league hitters.
Even more impressive, he carries an 89.6% left-on-base rate, stranding runners with the confidence of a veteran starter.
His 42.3% ground ball rate balances his strikeout-heavy approach, keeping opposing lineups from capitalizing on fly ball damage.
Fastball setting the tone
What makes Schlittler so dangerous is his fastball, which averages 97.9 mph and ranks in the 94th percentile league-wide.
Opponents are hitting just .191 against it, a testament to the velocity and late life that overwhelms hitters.
His cutter, which moves like a slider, has been equally effective, holding opponents to a .222 batting average.
Together, the pitches give him a devastating one-two punch that has already given major league hitters significant problems.
Developing the secondary arsenal
Schlittler is still refining his curveball, which he hopes to develop into a consistent secondary offering behind the fastball.
For now, his heater and cutter form the foundation, but growth in that third pitch could elevate him even further.
The Yankees know he’s still in the learning phase, occasionally giving up hard contact, but that’s expected at his stage.
With every start, he’s gaining experience that should translate into a more complete and polished arsenal moving forward.
When it comes to a possible playoff start, pitching coach Matt Blake believes he’s got the ability, he told The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.
“He has a pretty steady character,” Blake said. “I think the moment is not too big for him. He knows that he can pitch in the strike zone, which is a big part of it. I think that part of the game is important. When you get to the postseason, you’re probably facing teams that control the zone a little bit better, so you’re not going to get as much reckless chase in those lineups. I think the fact that he can throw his fastball in the zone, and he does at a high rate, would give you a chance in the postseason.”
A glimpse at a frontline future
It’s rare for a rookie to arrive with this kind of impact, but Schlittler has already flashed frontline starter potential.
He doesn’t just survive on the mound; he attacks with the confidence of someone who belongs among baseball’s best.
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For a Yankees team always hungry for pitching stability, Schlittler represents a homegrown arm who could anchor rotations ahead.
If this trajectory holds, New York may have found their next ace — and he’s only just getting started.