The news is confirmed: Yankees phenom Cam Schlittler is working this offseason to add a new, “game-changing” offspeed pitch to his arsenal for the 2026 season. This strategic upgrade is a direct mandate from the Yankees’ pitching development staff, led by Matt Blake.
The goal is to evolve Schlittler from an elite thrower with a 98 mph fastball into a refined, complete ace.
The New Pitch: The Changeup
Schlittler has been experimenting with two offspeed pitches, but the consensus choice is the Changeup:
- The Preference: Schlittler and Pitching Coach Matt Blake have indicated that the Changeup is the most likely addition, as Schlittler struggled with the wrist pronation required for a splitter last spring.
- The Goal: Blake’s goal is to give Schlittler a pitch he can “get below the barrel” and command. This changeup is designed to tunnel perfectly with his high-velocity fastball, making the 98 mph heat look identical out of his hand before the changeup dives away.
- The Necessity: While Schlittler’s fastball (.178 batting average against) and cutter (28% whiff rate) were dominant in his 2025 rookie season, he struggled to put away left-handed hitters and often entered “foul ball wars.” A good changeup is the ideal strikeout pitch to create separation and put away lefties early in the count, which would dramatically cut down his walk rate.
Why This is a “Game-Changing” Upgrade
Schlittler’s rookie season was incredible (2.96 ERA, 10.36 K/9), but he heavily relied on his four-seam fastball (nearly 55% usage). The league will adjust to that.
Adding a reliable changeup will move Schlittler’s potential ceiling from a solid rotation arm to a frontline ace for the following reasons:
- Six-Pitch Mix: The changeup would give him a true six-pitch mix (Four-Seam, Sinker, Cutter, Slider, Curveball, Changeup), an arsenal that is extremely difficult for hitters to decipher over multiple plate appearances.
- Elite Company: If he masters the changeup, he will join an exclusive club of pitchers (like Paul Skenes and Spencer Schwellenbach) who average $97 \text{ MPH}$ or harder and use six pitches over 5% of the time.
Schlittler has already proven he can be an October warrior (striking out 12 over eight scoreless innings in his playoff debut). This new pitch is the key to unlocking his full, long-term dominance.
