Cam Schlittler got the news on Monday that he would be making his major league debut for the Yankees on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
The right-hander said it was a "great feeling" when he found out he got the call and it was even better that he was able to join the team on Tuesday, a day before his start, to "get his feet wet" as he and manager Aaron Boone both put it after the game.
"It was really good to get here Tuesday and kind of just get my feet wet a little bit, see how guys go about their business and just kinda (see) the expectations around here," Schlittler said.
That full day of being around the team certainly helped calm the 24-year-old's nerves ahead of his debut, though he admitted to having "more jitters" Wednesday morning. Those jitters soon went away when he arrived back at the ballpark, focused for his first major league start.
After walking the first batter he faced, losing J.P. Crawford on a full count, Schlittler dialed back in and retired the next three batters, including two via strikeouts and showing off his 100 mph fastball in the process.
It's a pitch that Boone has been impressed with since watching Schlittler in spring training.
"Especially when he went up against some of the better lineups… you saw it play and that’s kinda been his calling card coming through," Boone said of the right-hander's fastball. "His size really works for him."
But the fastball wasn't the only pitch that Schlittler relied on. Of course, tempting as it is to try and blow hitters away with triple digits, Schlittler mixed in his secondary pitches as well and did so effectively.
"It’s about being under control and being solid with the secondary stuff and I thought that was as big a deal as anything tonight — the secondary stuff was solid for him," Boone said. "I thought it was a really composed outing."
After the game, Schlittler mentioned that since the Yankees last saw him in spring training he's since ditched his splitter and gyro and added a cutter to give him a four-pitch mix of fastball, cutter, curveball and slider.
"I’ve seen really good results with it," he said.
He sure has as the 6-foot-6, 225-pounder was called up after pitching to a 2.82 ERA across 15 games (14 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
"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 here in these first few months now at the higher level to get this opportunity," Boone said. "He’s got a big arm and he continues to get better."
After his scoreless first inning, Schlittler pitched well and was aided by a quick 3-0 lead to keep the pressure to a minimum. He exited after 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven on 75 pitches (52 strikes). One of those seven strikeouts came on the last batter he faced, All-Star Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB with 36 home runs and is having one of the greatest seasons for a catcher.
Schlittler struck him out swinging on a 98 mph fastball up and away after striking him out looking in the first. Raleigh finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
"I liked the matchup… I just felt like his heater could play," Boone said. "… To be able to get out of there on a high note with some score leverage, I was gonna let him get Raleigh."
When Schlittler walked off the field, he was given a well-deserved standing ovation, although he was too focused on the game to look up and soak the moment in.
"I think I kept the head down, probably should’ve looked up more, but again just fortunate for all the fans and family cheering me on," he said while adding, "it was really loud."
"It’s really good to go out there and put the team in a position to win and just kind of live out that dream," he continued. "… Obviously just trying to get the first one under my belt. Whatever happens I’m just fortunate to be here and get that opportunity and just take it day by day and see what happens."
Boone confirmed after the game that Schlittler will make his next start for the Yankees, taking the spot of Clarke Schmidt, who is out for the rest of the season.
"His stuff really plays and I thought his calm and poise and focus was excellent," the skipper said.
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