Cam Schlittler downplays ‘disgusting’ threats, feels Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is ‘heading in the right direction’

Schlittler boasted about that a few times on social media in the hours, days and weeks that followed. That led to some more hate over the offseason.

On Tuesday, he said he’s not going out of his way to seek out negative comments on social media or do his own trash talking, though it’s not something he’s shied away from.

“I said what I needed to say at the end of last year,” Schlittler said of navigating his online interactions. “There’s not much a regular season game is going to change about that. I’m not too worried about that. I’ve got a job to do. I don’t want to create a distraction for the team, so I’m just gonna go out there and do what I need to do on the mound.

“The goal is to win a championship, and whatever I can do to help the team win is exactly what I’m looking to do,” he said. “But I don’t think I’m gonna get there by messing with people on social media.”

Aaron Boone, meanwhile, semi-jokingly said, “We’re trying to have him have less of a social media presence.”

Now Schlittler, who has a 1.95 ERA over five starts, is set to face the Red Sox for the first time since that outing. He’s expecting a raucous crowd Thursday with his parents and lots of friends coming to the game.

“It’s gonna be loud,” Schlittler said, “and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Schlittler last pitched at Fenway his senior year of high school in an area prospects showcase organized by Yankees scout Matt Hyde, who eventually convinced the club to draft the pitcher out of Northeastern in 2022. Schlittler last visited Fenway in May, catching a Red Sox night game after making an early start for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.

As a kid, Schlittler dreamed of pitching for the Red Sox at Fenway Park, but that obviously changed as he went through the pre-draft process and built a relationship with the Yankees. Still, he never imagined getting booed at Fenway, but he knows that’s about to happen this week.

As someone who attended Red Sox games as a kid, Schlittler is familiar with how harsh the Fenway faithful can be, especially when the Yankees are in town. And while he doesn’t think the American League East rivalry is “as intense as it used to be,” he did say, “I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

He’s certainly played a helping hand in that regard.

“I don’t think the goal is to just heat the rivalry up,” Schlittler said. “I think the goal is, when you’re playing division rivals, that you’re gonna perform at the best level. And if some guys, that rivalry feeds them a little bit — like it does for me — then great. If not, then it doesn’t matter.”