Cam Schlittler’s Boston love-hate story stirs fresh tussle with Red Sox

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NEW YORK — Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler is not letting Boston off the hook. The Walpole, Massachusetts native who ended the Red Sox season is once again at the center of attention, this time for trolling his hometown fans after the Yankees’ own playoff exit.

Schlittler, 24, became a postseason hero for the Yankees when he struck out 12 batters in eight scoreless innings to eliminate Boston in the Wild Card Series. Now, even after New York’s season ended in the ALDS against Toronto, he has kept the rivalry alive online.

The right-hander has been taking playful shots at Red Sox fans who have questioned his Boston roots and his allegiance. When one user on X accused him of “not being from Boston,” Schlittler fired back. “Went to school in [Boston] for 3 years, I live in Southie during the off season, start preparing for the Bruins [season] homie,” he replied.

His short responses, paired with emojis, show he’s enjoying the banter. The Yankees pitcher has leaned into the role of Boston villain with confidence and humor.

Bruins over baseball for the offseason

Just hours after the Yankees were eliminated in Game 4 of the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays, Schlittler updated his X profile. He replaced his photo with the Boston Bruins’ spoked-B logo and changed his banner image to TD Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics.

The timing drew attention, especially since he had just told a fan to “start preparing for the Bruins season.” Schlittler, who grew up cheering for Boston teams, seems to have fully embraced his city’s hockey spirit after baseball’s end.

He also posted, “Next stop #Bruins,” showing his shift in focus to Boston’s next major sport.

When asked about his Boston ties, Schlittler did not shy away. “I told them that’s exactly what was going to happen,” he said of Red Sox fans upset after the Yankees eliminated their team. “They’ll get over it. Hockey season is coming up, basketball season is coming up. So I’m sure they got other things to distract them.”

Even though he wears pinstripes, his New England roots continue to shape his public image.

From hero in New York to villain at home

Schlittler’s story is one few ballplayers share. As a Massachusetts native pitching for the Yankees, he has become both celebrated and resented. His dominance against the Red Sox made him an instant favorite in the Bronx, but it also turned him into a target in Boston.

After his performance in the Wild Card Series, Red Sox fans filled social media with criticism. Some went too far, taking aim at his family. Schlittler later revealed that Boston fans harassed his mother and relatives after the series. The experience, he said, motivated him in that do-or-die Game 3 start.

“I was more locked in than ever,” he said to ESPN after the win. “I knew what that game meant to both sides.”

Even family members had mixed feelings. “They were happy for me but upset it was the Red Sox,” Schlittler said. “I told them they’d get over it once the Bruins and Celtics start up.”

Red Sox fans fire back after Yankees exit

Boston fans didn’t stay quiet after the Yankees were knocked out of the playoffs. Sports personality Lucy Burdge, who previously sparred with Schlittler online, saw her chance for payback.

Burdge replied to an old post from Schlittler that read, “Great series win, onto the next,” with the message: “And then what happened?” Her comeback quickly went viral among Red Sox fans still celebrating the Yankees’ early exit.

Others joined the conversation, tagging Schlittler in memes and Bruins photos, teasing him for switching back to Boston colors so quickly. For many Red Sox followers, watching the Yankees fall after eliminating them offered a sense of poetic justice.

Bello joins in on the rivalry

The rivalry took another turn when Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello joined the online jabs. Bello trolled Yankees fans during their ALDS collapse with cryptic Instagram posts.

When Toronto took a 6-1 lead over New York in Game 3, Bello posted a giggling emoji on a black screen. When the Yankees came back to win 9-6, he went silent, but the next morning he posted a surfer emoji before Game 4. Hours later, the Blue Jays eliminated the Yankees 5-2.

Bello’s record against the Yankees gives his teasing weight. He owns a 2.35 ERA in 65 career innings against New York, holding Aaron Judge to a .095 average and Giancarlo Stanton to .200. His success against the Yankees only adds to the rivalry’s tension.

Yankees exit renews Boston’s laughter

The Yankees’ 2025 season ended with another missed championship, extending their World Series drought to 16 years. After the Blue Jays closed out the ALDS at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox fans found reason to celebrate.

While Boston’s own playoff hopes had been crushed by Schlittler’s dominance, watching the Yankees’ downfall helped ease the sting. Meanwhile, the young pitcher’s online activity made him impossible to ignore. His Bruins-themed profile picture and TD Garden banner became talking points across both cities.

Fans accused him of switching sides too quickly, but Schlittler didn’t seem to mind. “Start preparing for the Bruins season, homie,” he told one critic, echoing his now-famous line.

A Boston Yankee through and through

Schlittler’s path to the Yankees started close to home. He played college baseball at Northeastern University in Boston and grew up in Walpole, surrounded by Red Sox fans. His success in the majors has made him a rare figure — a Yankee who embodies Boston roots.

Despite the Yankees’ elimination, Schlittler was one of the bright spots of their postseason. His 12-strikeout performance against Boston remains one of the team’s top highlights. Even his 6.1-inning effort against Toronto showed promise for a pitcher still early in his career.

Yankees fans appreciate his edge, while Red Sox supporters love to hate him. For now, Schlittler seems content to play both sides. His confident trolling and proud Boston ties have made him one of baseball’s most talked-about young personalities.

And when asked how Boston fans should feel about his postseason dominance, he kept his answer simple. “They’ll get over it. Hockey season is coming up,” he said with a grin.

With that, the rivalry that started on the mound has moved to social media — and Cam Schlittler seems happy to keep it going, one post at a time.

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