Cam Schlittler Injury: Yankees Pitcher to Miss Bullpens |...

Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler is skipping bullpen sessions due to back and lat issues after posting a 4-3 record and 84 strikeouts last season.

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler is currently sidelined from bullpen sessions due to back inflammation and a lat issue, manager Aaron Boone announced Thursday. The 25-year-old pitcher, who debuted on July 9, is coming off a rookie campaign where he posted a 4-3 record and a 2.96 ERA across 14 starts. Despite the current Cam Schlittler injury setback, the pitcher maintains a "zero" concern level regarding his availability for the March 25 season opener. During his 73 innings of work last year, Schlittler utilized a fastball averaging 98 mph to record 84 strikeouts against 31 walks.

Schlittler’s postseason performance further established his role in the rotation, highlighted by eight shutout innings against Boston in the Wild Card Series. He followed that performance in the Division Series against Toronto by pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs with only two being earned. The pitcher noted that he first felt the current physical discomfort a few weeks ago, describing it as a recurring issue from the previous year. He intends to resume mound work next week while continuing his prescribed throwing program in the interim.

Rotation Depth and Injury Timelines

The Yankees' projected starting staff faces significant early-season hurdles with three other key arms unavailable. Ace Gerrit Cole remains out while recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on March 11 of last year, with a projected return in the first half of the current season. Carlos Rodón is also sidelined following an October 15 operation to remove loose bodies and shave a bone spur in his left elbow; he is not expected back until May. Additionally, Clarke Schmidt is set to miss a large portion of the season after undergoing UCL repair surgery on July 11.

In the absence of these veterans, the New York rotation currently features Max Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers alongside Schlittler. Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, has his own history with lat injuries, having missed the majority of last season until his August 3 debut. Schlittler’s workload increased significantly recently, as he threw 164 total innings last year including the playoffs, surpassing his 2024 professional high of 120 2/3 innings.

Path from Somerset to the Bronx

Schlittler’s rise through the Yankees system was rapid during the previous calendar year. He began the season at Double-A Somerset before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 3. After making only five starts with the RailRiders, the organization called him up to the major league roster. The right-hander took a four-week hiatus following the conclusion of the postseason before initiating his offseason throwing regimen to prepare for his sophomore year.

Boone characterized the recent medical tests for the pitcher as "good news," suggesting the right-hander will likely stay off the mound for at least the next few days. Schlittler noted that he feels he has earned his current role, contrasting his current status with his experience as a prospect during last year's spring training. He emphasized the importance of addressing the minor inflammation now to prevent it from evolving into a long-term concern during the regular season.

Statistical Impact and Pitching Profile

The Yankees' reliance on Schlittler stems from his efficiency in high-leverage situations and his high-velocity profile. His 1.15 strikeout-per-inning rate during his debut season provided a necessary power arm for a rotation missing its primary ace. The team expects him to remain a core component of the starting five, provided he successfully transitions back to mound work next week as scheduled. With Rodón and Cole out, the stability of the back end of the rotation depends heavily on the health of younger arms like Schlittler and Gil as the team prepares for the late March start.