Little to no rookies made more of an impact in the 2025 MLB Postseason than New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler.
Schlittler threw just 73 regular season innings before making his postseason debut. That didn't seem to matter, as he posted a 1.26 ERA with 14 strikeouts across two starts and 14 1/3 postseason innings.
In his rookie campaign, Schlittler used a heavy dosage of four-seam fastballs (54.7%) and cutters (20.8%) to get himself through the season. It may not be just those two pitches next season, though, that helps Schlittler get through his first full major league season.
According to Yankees beat writer Gary Phillips, Schlittler is using the offseason to work on the addition of a changeup or splitter to his arsenal next season. According to Phillips, conversations with pitching coach Matt Blake have indicated that a changeup is the more likely outcome of the two options for Schlittler.
The addition of a strikeout pitch against left-handers for Schlittler could help him reach another level. Walks to left-handers were an issue for Schlittler last season, as he surrendered 21, compared to just 10 to right-handers. Cleaning that up with the addition of a changeup that looks the same as his regularly thrown 98-mph fastball could be a major factor.
Spring training will be the first chance for the baseball world to see Schlittler's progress in developing a new pitch and if it works, he may very well take the reins as New York's ace for next season and beyond.
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