2023 Cam Schlittler video is a testament to Yankees pitcher development prowess

Cam Schlittler just put together a sensational performance against the Boston Red Sox to complete the New York Yankees' sweep of their arch-rival. The last time Schlittler faced Boston, he dominated them with not much more than his blazing fastball.

This time around, he still brought plenty of heat, but not as much as he normally does. The 25-year-old averaged 96.9 miles per hour on his four-seamer, down nearly half a mile from his 97.3 miles per hour season average. His sinker and cutter saw similar drops as well.

After the game, he told Meredith Marakovitz, "I didn't have my best stuff today, definitely a grind. The boys picked me up. So again, just had to put pieces together, and I just keep trying to have quality innings." It only took 96 pitches for Schlittler to log eight innings while allowing just one earned run. The Red Sox managed just four hits and a walk against the 25-year-old. Seems like his stuff was plenty fine, even if he only struck out five.

There's something to what he said, though, that is a universal truth. A great pitcher can grind when they don't have their best stuff, but in order to do so, they need to have stuff to begin with. That hasn't always been the case for Schlittler, who began his career in A-ball unable to consistently break 90 on the gun.

Cam Schlittler's radical transformation proves fans should have faith in top Yankees' pitching prospects

Empire Sports Media's Ryan Garcia put together a clip that shows how we got from that version of Schlittler to the one we see today. It should be noted that the original clip surfaced thanks to another X/Twitter user, @HalToHell.

The Yankees take a lot of flak for their player development. Whether it's Anthony Volpe's stagnation, Austin Wells looking lost, Jasson Dominguez disappointing, or Oswald Peraza finally becoming the player his potential suggested the minute he left the Yankees, it's easy to question whether or not they know how to develop anyone.

But then there's Schlittler. Again, he was a nobody when he was drafted with his pre-draft scouting report from Baseball America (subscription required) reading in part, "There’s nothing plus in the four-pitch mix from Schlttler, whose go-to secondary pitch is his slider. He throws it in the low-to-mid-80s with short break, a fringe-average pitch that helps him get swing-and-miss in the college level. He also throws a below-average changeup that comes in firm off his fastball, along with a fringe-average curveball in the upper-70s."

Schlittler's mechanical makeover proves that, at least when it comes to pitching prospects, New York's player development system actually works.

We're going to see that tree bear more fruit soon. Carlos Lagrange has fans sitting on the edge of their seats, salivating at his inevitable call-up. He signed for just the minimum $10,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2022.

Elmer Rodriguez was a mid-level prospect who struggled mightily with walks in High-A when the Yankees acquired him in December of 2024, and look at him now.

Credit to the players, of course, for implementing the coaching and executing to make the gains real, but a real hat tip has to go to that pitching development apparatus in the minor leagues. The position player prospects might be overhyped messes, but count out a Baby Bombers hurler at your own risk. You don't need to look any further than Schlittler to see why.

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