Former Northeastern pitcher Cam Schlittler makes MLB postseason history
The 6-foot-6 right-hander tossed eight shutout innings, struck out 12 and walked none to set a Major League Baseball postseason record.
In a win-or-go-home Wild Card round game in the American League playoffs Thursday night, former Northeastern University righthander Cam Schlittler dominated.
The 6-foot-6 flamethrower tossed eight shutout innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox, Schlittler’s favorite team as a kid growing up in the Boston area. Schlittler struck out 12, the most ever by a Yankees pitcher in a postseason debut.
Schlittler was also the first pitcher to throw eight innings, strike out 12, walk none and allow zero runs in Major League Baseball postseason history.
“It’s great, obviously you’re not chasing those things, but again, I’ll take it in tonight and then get back to work tomorrow,” Schlittler told ESPN after the game.
Schlittler gave up only five hits and consistently threw in the upper 90s, topping out at 100.8 mph under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium in New York City.
“An absolutely legendary performance on the biggest stage,” Mike Glavine, longtime Northeastern University baseball coach, told Northeastern Global News. “He was in control of the game from start to finish. His fastball was electric, and his command of his pitches and the game was incredible to watch.”
The win sends the Yankees to a Divisional Round matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Schlittler is from Walpole, Massachusetts, less than 20 miles from Fenway Park, the home of the Red Sox, and Northeastern Huskies’ Parsons Field in Brookline.
“I got a good night’s sleep last night. I wasn’t too worried about it, but I woke up and I was locked in, so I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team,” Schlittler said at a post-game press conference.
In 2022, when Schlittler was drafted by the Yankees, he told Northeastern Global News that as a lifelong Red Sox fan he was looking forward to pitching for the nemesis Yankees. “I’m definitely going to try and beat them,” Schlittler said three years ago. “If I ever get to that point, if I’m lucky enough that I can, that would be a dream opportunity.”
His dream came true at Yankee Stadium in a legendary performance.
Glavine said Cam is a tough, competitive player who pitches with confidence and attitude.
“He has a quiet intensity and confidence about himself that drives him to be successful. He has the work ethic and dawg in him,” Glavine said.
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And if Glavine had been in the dugout with Schlittler after that performance, he would tell him: “Congratulations on a historic night under the brightest of lights in an elimination game. He made all of us proud to be Huskies and to be rooting for him last night.”
The rookie pitcher made his Major League debut on July 8, grabbing a win as he struck out 7 and walked 2 in 5-1/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners.
Schlittler had four wins and three losses during the regular season, finishing with a 2.96 ERA. He struck out 83 and walked 31 while giving up 58 hits.
At Northeastern, Schlittler went 14-9 with a 2.62 ERA and 180 strikeouts across 182 innings in 31 appearances, 30 of them starts. He credits the university with shaping him both on and off the field.
“I love the people, I love the environment,” he told NGN in 2022. “Being able to compete at a high level and still be able to have the academic side of it was why I chose Northeastern and I’m happy I did.
“The experience I had there over the last three years is awesome. I’m really excited about the opportunity they gave me and everything they provided for me, and I’m just glad that I was able to take advantage of it.”
