With the 220th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected Cam Schlittler from Northeastern University. At the time, he wasn’t seen as a finished product ready for the next level — which is expected for a seventh-round selection. But Schlittler’s profile needed more than a few adjustments.
Coming out of college, his fastball sat between 90–91 MPH, lacked strong vertical action, and there were real concerns about his ability to throw enough strikes to remain a starter. Yet despite these red flags and his low draft status, Schlittler has become one of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects and is now inching closer to the big leagues.
Cam Schlittler: From Afterthought to Standout
Schlittler turned in another impressive outing on Sunday, pushing closer to a promotion to Triple-A. Pitching for Somerset, he owns a 2.38 ERA — ninth-best among qualified Double-A pitchers — and holds the third-best FIP at 2.18. He’s been dominant in limiting damage, striking out hitters efficiently and giving up just one home run across 53 innings. His league-best 0.17 HR/9 rate and .314 slugging percentage allowed are both standout metrics.
So how did a pitcher once considered underwhelming in terms of velocity and pitch quality end up near the top of Double-A leaderboards?
One of the biggest areas of improvement is his fastball. Once a below-average offering, it’s now one of his more reliable weapons. It now sits around 95 MPH and can reach up to 99 MPH. His long arms add extension, making the pitch even more effective.
“Cam Schlittler dials it up to 98.5 MPH for the strikeout.”
Though it may not be a special fastball, it’s become a pitch he can command in the zone for called strikes or induce weak contact. It also helps him set up his other pitches more effectively.
His breaking stuff includes a sweeping slider that features heavy lateral movement with some vertical ride, making it especially tough on right-handed batters. It sits in the mid-80s and is highly effective at generating whiffs. Since sweepers are typically weaker against left-handed hitters, Schlittler also utilizes a curveball with strong horizontal movement and sharp downward action.
His curveball draws comparisons to Clarke Schmidt’s, as both generate heavy spin and result in awkward swings.
These breaking balls make him a difficult matchup for all hitters. This season, right-handed hitters have posted a .647 OPS against him, while left-handed batters are at just .596.
In addition, Schlittler has introduced a cutter into his mix. It sits in the upper 80s and has reached as high as 93 MPH. This pitch bridges the gap between his fastball and breaking stuff, making it harder for hitters to identify what’s coming.
Now equipped with four average-to-above-average pitches, Schlittler is a completely different pitcher from the one drafted out of Northeastern. His Strike% has increased by 3%, and his walk rate has dropped from 10.6% to 8.0%. Both improvements have significantly boosted his potential as a major leaguer.
If he can maintain this level of performance, his strikeout ability and improved command make him a strong candidate for a call-up later in the 2025 season. Though a stop in Triple-A likely comes first, Schlittler may be the Yankees’ best option if they need an emergency starter before other arms like Luis Gil or JT Brubaker return.
The road has been challenging, but the version of Cam Schlittler seen today is almost unrecognizable from the one the Yankees drafted. If he continues at this pace and stays healthy, a major league debut could be just around the corner.
