Thursday, June 18

Welcome to this edition of the Yankees Beat newsletter.

NEW YORK – There is no doubt in Cam Schlittler’s mind.

Each time the Yankees right-hander stands tall on a Major League mound, staring down an imposing lineup in front of a packed crowd, much of the confidence and edge comes from his father.

“I credit him with a lot of my success,” Schlittler said. “He’s been a great role model. My dad is kind of hardcore and competitive, similar to the mentality I have. I definitely feed off his traits, for sure.”

John Schlittler is the police chief of Needham, Mass. Within the hallways of a household that Cam describes as “blue collar and humble,” his mother, Christine, seemed to be the more easygoing parent. His father cut an imposing figure, demanding accountability.

Young Cam didn’t always appreciate those expectations, but he does now.

“It’s tough to see that as a kid,” Schlittler said. “He used to tell me, ‘You’re not going to realize it now, but you’re going to realize it when you’re older.’ That was really true. You realize that him being hard on me and my siblings was definitely the best outcome we could have had.”

The weight of that occupation is heavy, and not just for the person wearing the badge. Growing up in Walpole, Mass., Schlittler said he understood that whether he was in a classroom, on a ballfield or out with friends, people would always be watching.

“Being a police chief is a tough job,” Schlittler said. “A lot of people are out to get you, and they’re going to try to use that stuff. You’re in high school and everyone’s having fun; everyone’s trying to break the rules. There were a lot of situations I couldn’t put myself in because of him and his job.”

Showcasing a fastball that sits comfortably in the upper 90s, Schlittler has claimed his place as one of the American League’s top hurlers, arriving on the scene with a strong second-half performance that included a memorable shutdown performance against the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series.

Owning an AL-best 1.82 ERA and ranking among the leaders in numerous other categories, Schlittler is enjoying a breakthrough many would not have forecast for the 25-year-old, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft from Northeastern University.

Schlittler said his father pushed him to persevere against long odds.

“He wasn’t soft,” Schlittler said. “Kids cry or get upset when they make a bad play, but he taught me how to have that chip on my shoulder; to act the right way. I’ve been able to use those traits to grow as a player and as a person.

“… I came here really as a nobody. I’ve used that edge to have the success I’m having now, trying to help this team win games. All of that kind of leads back to him helping me grow up, on the field and off the field.”

The police chief never truly goes off-duty. Schlittler said that, throughout high school and college, his dad would “get on my [butt]” about making sure he was drinking the correct protein shakes and sticking to his workout schedule.

“He was still getting on me in pro ball,” Schlittler said, with a chuckle. “It got to a point last year where I was like, ‘Hey, I’m 24 years old, I’m in the big leagues. I know what I’ve got to do to take care of my body.’”

Still, Schlittler says his parents are “really good about giving me space,” and he knows their hearts are in the right place.

At the conclusion of Schlittler’s Major League debut last August, the YES Network cameras captured his folks hugging tearfully amidst a cheering Yankee Stadium crowd. That moment remains one of Cam’s favorites, he said, because it “was so personal” to them.

“I think they were just so happy I was able to accomplish my dreams,” he said. “I know they’re very proud of me. They definitely remind me about that a lot.”

Mariano Rivera’s 652 saves are a Major League record, all of which came in a Yankees uniform. Who has the second-most saves as a Yankee?

A) Aroldis Chapman

B) Goose Gossage

C) Sparky Lyle

D) Dave Righetti

• The Canyon of Heroes will roar today for the NBA champion New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart got a sneak preview last night at Yankee Stadium, where they threw ceremonial first pitches before the Yankees’ game against the White Sox.

• HOPE Week continues through Friday, and already the Yankees have had memorable experiences in the community, including a visit to an inspirational Brooklyn bakery and an introduction to the unforgettable story of Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez.

• José Caballero believes he has identified a strategy to tilt the pitch clock in his favor. It’s completely within the rules. So why do opponents and umpires seem to have a problem?

June 18, 2005: Derek Jeter hit his first (and only) career grand slam, off the Cubs’ Joe Borowski. The captain added a solo homer in an 8-1 Yankees victory.

D) Righetti

“Rags” tallied 224 saves with the Yankees over his 11 years in the Bronx, though he spent part of that tenure as a starting pitcher. Chapman (153), Gossage (151) and Lyle (141) are next on the club list.   

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