Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler revealed that his family received death threats from Red Sox fans before his debut at Fenway Park. He expressed that such trolling is expected due to the rivalry between the teams.
Key points
Cam Schlittler plays for the New York Yankees
He received death threats from Red Sox fans
The threats are linked to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry
Schlittler expects such trolling from fans
New York YankeesBoston Red SoxCam Schlittler
New York Yankees pitcher Cam SchlittlerCredit: J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler
Credit: J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is addressing the trolling he receives from his home state of Massachusetts
Schlitter said Boston Red Sox fans often send hateful messages, including death threats, because he plays for the rival New York Yankees
"That's kind of what I expect,” the professional pitcher said
Cam Schlittler is drowning out the noise ahead of his first start at Fenway Park.
In two new interviews this week, the 25-year-old New York Yankees pitcher opened up about how he and his family have been the target of trolling and death threats ahead of his planned start against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, April 23.
"Most normal fans could care less, right?" Schlittler told the California Post in an interview published Sunday, April 19.
He grew up in Walpole, Mass., about 40 minutes South of Boston, and was selected by his hometown team's division rivals in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
"It's just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them," the sports star continued.
Q&A
What death threats did Cam Schlittler's family receive?
Cam Schlittler's family received death threats from Boston Red Sox fans due to his affiliation with the New York Yankees.
How does Cam Schlittler feel about the trolling from Red Sox fans?
Cam Schlittler stated that he expects the trolling and hateful messages from Red Sox fans as part of the rivalry.
When did Cam Schlittler make his debut at Fenway Park?
Cam Schlittler made his debut at Fenway Park during a game against the Boston Red Sox.
What is the significance of the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox?
The rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox is one of the most famous in sports, often leading to intense emotions and reactions from fans.
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Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees on April 17, 2026Credit: New York Yankees/Getty
Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees on April 17, 2026
Credit: New York Yankees/Getty
He also said he anticipates the game is “gonna be bad” due to the response he’s received thus far.
“I'm not nervous about it, but it's gonna be loud," Schlittler said. "They're gonna probably have dudes that are my age or a little bit younger, sitting right outside the [visiting] bullpen, yelling whatever, probably throwing stuff at me, trying to grab me.”
Though the April 23 match-up marks Schlitter's first time pitching at Fenway, it's not his first time playing against the Sox as a Yankee.
Schlittler, who had the most strikeouts by a Yankees rookie in a postseason game in 2025, recorded a 4-0 win against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2025 American League Wild Card Series.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam SchlittlerCredit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler
Credit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty
“[You’d] think after last time, how much they were talking before, that they might be trying to quiet it down a little bit,” he told The Athletic.
He added that he initially thought things would go better and that the fans would have a “mutual respect, just because I was from there.”
“And it just shocked me so much that I was like, ‘OK, I’m trying to dominate,’ ” Schlittler said. “I’m going to make sure they hear it back. So, it was really just a shock, and it kind of lit the fire a little bit. My personality kind of got dragged out of me.”
He previously addressed his family falling victim to the trolls after a screenshot of his mother setting her social media to private circulated online.
“Some of the bigger accounts they got over there, I was able to see, unfortunately,” Schlittler said, per The Athletic. “I don’t really check my phone much before the game, but there was some stuff that was brought to my attention. Don’t need to give them the attention they’re looking for, but just channel it and made sure I took it in the right way.”
Despite the harassment, Schlittler assured the outlet that he’s ready for the intense atmosphere at Fenway.
"That's kind of what I expect,” he said. “So I know the guys are excited for it and I'm excited for it."
