NEW YORK -- Cam Schlittler couldn’t sit still. Four hours before his Major League debut, the lanky right-hander was pacing the Yankees' clubhouse like a man with a million thoughts and nowhere to put them.
Already wearing his game cap, a gray long-sleeved T-shirt and shorts, he kept returning to the same spot at his locker -- tablet in hand, eyes locked upon video scouting reports -- before rising for another slow lap. This wasn’t nerves. It was anticipation.
Schlittler harnessed that energy, walking off to a standing ovation after his seventh strikeout, stamping an exclamation point as he picked up the win in the Yankees’ 9-6 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
“That’s been my goal my whole life,” Schlittler said. “It’s really good to go out there, put the team in a position to win and just live out that dream.”
Plugged into the Bombers’ rotation after right-hander Clarke Schmidt was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery, Schlittler -- rated the Yanks’ No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline -- made a strong case to stick around.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already promised Schlittler another start, which should come after the All-Star break.
“He’s in a great spot,” Boone said. “He earned this opportunity -- not just because there’s a bunch of guys down, but because he’s absolutely the guy that’s put up the numbers and done the work in the first few months. He’s got a big arm, and he continues to get better.”
With Schlittler's parents, John and Christine, cheering wildly alongside some two dozen well-wishers who made the trip down from Walpole, Mass., the Yanks gave the right-hander a quick cushion, scoring three first-inning runs. They continued to add on, including two Jazz Chisholm Jr. homers, Nos. 16 and 17 this year.
Schlittler made the lead hold up, showcasing an electric fastball that had the Mariners a tick behind all night -- exactly the kinds of overpowered swings he generated in the Minors, pitching to a 2.82 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Chisholm said he checked in on the rookie from time to time, but mostly, Schlittler cruised.
“I just told him, ‘Hey, we’ve got your back. Go out there and do your thing. At the end of the day, you’ve been playing baseball all your life,'” Chisholm said.
The Yanks saw a bit of Schlittler this spring, when he pitched in five exhibitions; though his 6-foot-6 frame seemed to get on hitters, Jasson Domínguez recalled the hurler looking “kind of nervous” in the Grapefruit League.
But here in the Bronx? Schlittler looked ready for primetime. Domínguez described him as “very calm.” Chisholm said he noticed Schlittler’s cheeks were red -- “I don’t know how to take that one,” the infielder quipped -- but he kept his composure.
“I think I probably had more jitters this morning, honestly,” Schlittler said. “Once I got to the field and got around everyone, I felt better.”
Scattering four hits, Schlittler exited with a four-run lead. An announced crowd of 35,651 saluted the effort; Schlittler kept his head down, but he heard the cheers.
“I probably should have looked up more,” he said. “It was loud. Really loud.”
Jonathan Loáisiga surrendered a Randy Arozarena two-run homer on his first pitch, with the inherited runner accounting for the last of three runs charged to Schlittler, who earlier served up solo homers to J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco.
“Even when he missed, he didn’t really miss down the middle,” Chisholm said.
A seventh-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft from Northeastern University, Schlittler notched his first big league strikeout by freezing Major League home run leader Cal Raleigh looking at a 99.6 mph fastball. Schlittler also fanned Raleigh swinging on his 75th and final pitch.
“His fastball has been his calling card,” Boone said. “His size really works for him. It’s about being under control and being solid with the secondary stuff. And I thought that was as big a deal tonight as anything.”
Only 10 pitchers in Yankees history have recorded at least seven strikeouts in their big league debut. The most recent was Jordan Montgomery (Aug. 12, 2017, vs. Tampa Bay). It's a list that also includes names such as Masahiro Tanaka (April 4, 2014, at Toronto) and Orlando Hernandez (June 3, 1998, vs. Tampa Bay).
Those hurlers each went on to leave their mark. What will Schlittler’s story look like? The Yankees are excited to find out.
“I’m just trying to get the first one under my belt,” Schlittler said. “Whatever happens, I’m just fortunate to be here and to get that opportunity.”