Schlittler forces Yankees conversation, but Blake rules out call-up now

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NEW YORK — Cam Schlittler has been nearly unhittable since his promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But despite a 2.18 ERA and a fastball touching 99 mph, the New York Yankees are in no rush to bring the 24-year-old right-hander to the Bronx.

The team’s decision to hold back its eighth-ranked prospect reflects a broader shift in strategy — one influenced by the uneven major league debut of another Triple-A standout, Allan Winans.

“We’ll probably not see him in the real near term,” Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said this week about Schlittler. “But he’s putting his name in the mix if we need a starter in the second half.”

Schlittler surging at Scranton

A seventh-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Northeastern, Schlittler has rapidly moved up the Yankees’ organizational ranks. Since his call-up to Scranton in mid-June, he’s allowed just four runs across 21 1/3 innings, posting an eye-popping 33-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over four starts. His most recent outing on June 26 — six scoreless innings and nine strikeouts against Worcester — turned heads.

Scouts have taken notice. All five of Schlittler’s pitches are grading as above-average in Stuff+, and his fastball consistently hits 97–99 mph. The outing against Boston’s Triple-A affiliate was particularly impressive, as he struck out top Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell three times.

“He’s commanding the ball well, he’s getting stronger, and the stuff is there,” Blake said about Schlittler. “Now it’s about showing that consistency.”

“I think so,” he added. “Obviously, it’s a bigger conversation with the front office and our development group about how he’s really handing Triple A, but I just thought his presence in our minor leagues and in spring training games, having to take four or five starts against ‘A’ lineups, he held his own and has kept getting better as the season has gone on. As he keeps posting starts and keeps showing that he’s commanding the ball the way he needs to — obviously, the stuff is good. I think he’s putting his name in the mix if we need a starter in the second half.”

Winans’ wobble shapes Yankee’ decision

While Schlittler’s Triple-A dominance has fueled speculation about a big league debut, the Yankees are clearly scarred by the debut performance of fellow righty Allan Winans.

Winans had been sensational in Scranton, logging a 0.90 ERA across nine starts. But his first big-league outing on June 24 against the Reds didn’t go as planned. After breezing through the lineup the first time, Winans unraveled the second time through, surrendering four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

His fastball, which sits around 89–90 mph, lacks elite velocity. Like Ryan Yarbrough, Winans relies on deception and command — a formula that’s less forgiving in the majors. His rough debut seems to have made the Yankees hesitant to rush another arm before it’s fully seasoned.

“It’s a conversation to see where we’re at,” Blake said. “Winans and Stroman are the two main guys in conversation for that spot with Yarbrough on the IL.”

But Stroman’s struggles add complexity

Veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman is expected to start Sunday’s series finale against the Athletics, though it’s far from a given. His rehab stint has been anything but smooth.

After posting a 6.97 ERA over three minor league rehab starts, Stroman gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings on June 25 with Double-A Somerset. His lack of command, more than the results, has raised alarms.

Since the start of 2024, Stroman has ranked among the league’s worst in Stuff+ for qualified starters. His velocity is down, his ground-ball rate is declining, and his strikeout rate hit a career low last season.

Even the Yankees’ front office is doubtful if they are to keep the pitcher.

Roster factors in Schlittler’s delay

One logistical wrinkle is Schlittler’s 40-man roster status. He is not currently on it, and the Yankees are hesitant to make a move this early in the season without a clearer long-term need.

There’s also a developmental philosophy at play. Schlittler may be dominating, but team officials want to see more repetition at Triple-A before adding him to a rotation that currently ranks among the best in baseball.

The Yankees enter June 28 with a 3.47 team ERA (7th in MLB), a .219 opponent batting average (2nd), and the second-best strikeouts per nine innings mark (9.33). Even with Stroman’s woes and Yarbrough’s oblique injury, the rotation remains largely intact.

“The starting pitching has kept us in almost every game,” Blake noted. “The bar is high to break into that group.”

Eye on the second half

Blake left the door open for Schlittler to make his debut later this summer.

“He held his own in spring training facing ‘A’ lineups. He’s gotten better with each start,” Blake said. “If he continues to perform and command the zone the way he’s doing now, he’s absolutely in that second-half conversation.”

There’s also the matter of innings. Schlittler is on pace to surpass his previous season-high workload. The Yankees may prefer to manage his innings and bring him up only if needed post-All-Star break — or even wait until September when rosters expand.

For now, the focus is on continued development. As impressive as his Triple-A run has been, Schlittler is still a prospect — and the Yankees aren’t ready to throw him into the fire after seeing how quickly Winans got burned.

This combination of raw velocity, precise command, and pitch deception has garnered significant attention throughout the Yankees organization, particularly among the coaching staff.

Long-term picture

The Yankees entered the 2025 season with a surplus of pitching depth. But with injuries to Stroman and Yarbrough and the struggles of backend fill-ins, their rotation outlook is less certain than it was two months ago.

Schlittler’s emergence offers real promise. He’s now the only top-10 pitching prospect in the organization currently at Triple-A, with other high-ceiling arms like Brock Selvidge, Henry Lalane, Bryce Cunningham, and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz still in Double-A or below.

As Blake put it, the Yankees need to be “intentional” with how and when they introduce these arms to the majors. For Schlittler, it means waiting just a little longer.

“The talent’s there,” Blake said. “We just want to be sure the timing is right.”

Blake’s recent statements don’t guarantee an imminent promotion, but they signal an important philosophical shift if Schlittler can force his way.

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