Yankees news: Cam Schlittler’s apprenticeship under Gerrit Cole

TL;DR

Cam Schlittler has rapidly emerged as a standout pitcher for the Yankees, learning a new cutter from Gerrit Cole. His success is attributed to a traditional pitching style, relying heavily on fastballs.

Key points

Cam Schlittler is a rising star for the New York Yankees
He learned a new cutter from Gerrit Cole
Schlittler primarily uses fastballs in his pitching
His approach contrasts with current MLB pitching trends
He has made a significant impact in less than a year

New York YankeesCam SchlittlerGerrit Cole

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 17: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: Cam Schlittler has been one of the biggest surprises in recent Yankee history, coming onto the major-league stage in the most impressive way in less than a year. Part of his repertoire of success has been a shiny new cutter he unveiled in his final regular-season start, a cutter taught to him by no less than Gerrit Cole. Cole himself adopted the breaking fastball in his 2023 Cy Young season, and if that’s the pedigree that Schlittler is learning under, the sky is the limit for the young righthander. MLB.com | Jared Greenspan: Alongside that cutter, Schlittler features a four and two-seam fastball, throwing those three pitches more than 85 percent of the time in 2026. This flies in the face of current pitching trends, where guys are offering more breaking and offspeed pitches than ever before. This old-school approach may be part of what takes MLB hitters by surprise when facing Cam, but all three heaters are also legitimate, big-league caliber pitches. New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: We move from the pitcher’s mound to the batter’s box, where has carved out a prominent spot for himself in the Yankee lineup. The onetime top prospect drove in all four Yankee runs in Wednesday’s win, and entering play yesterday had a sterling 137 wRC+. The righty credits an offseason change since re-signing with the Yankees over the winter, adding more uppercut to his swing and inducing more fly balls. His big home runs this year have been a direct symptom of that change — pulled fly balls do much more damage than shortening up and hitting the ball the other way. : When you’re rolling, these are good problems to have, but Aaron Boone does have to fill out a lineup card every day. Giving a day off will have Yankee fans grinding their teeth, and you need to balance out the new offensive upside Rosario has shown with the fact that really is a diamond defender at the hot corner. For now, Boone is pulling the right strings, although we’ll certainly hear about it if his luck starts to change.

Q&A

How has Cam Schlittler's performance impacted the Yankees in 2026?

Cam Schlittler's impressive pitching has made him one of the biggest surprises for the Yankees, contributing significantly to their success this season.

What pitching techniques did Gerrit Cole teach Cam Schlittler?

Gerrit Cole taught Cam Schlittler a new cutter, which has become a key part of Schlittler's pitching repertoire alongside his four and two-seam fastballs.

What is Cam Schlittler's pitching style compared to current MLB trends?

Cam Schlittler's pitching style is considered old-school, as he relies heavily on fastballs, throwing them over 85 percent of the time, contrary to the trend of using more breaking and offspeed pitches.