With the 2025 MLB season on the line, the Red Sox and Yankees turned to their star rookie pitchers in game three of the WIld Card series. Cam Schlitter recorded 0 runs and got the win for the Yankees 4-0 over the Red Sox to keep the Yankees season alive.
Connelly Early is a 23 year old pitcher who spent most of his career in the minors. He was ranked the number 6 prospect in the minor leagues by the MLB before being called up by the Red Sox.
24 year old Cam Schlitter is from Walpole, Massachusetts and went to Northeastern University. He grew up a Red Sox fan and was drafted by the Yankees. His entire family has transitioned to Yankees fans since he got drafted. Schlitter told the MLB, “They (My Family) are all Yankees guys now.”
Connelly Early as a rookie performed well for the Sox. According to the MLB, Early was called up in early September and did a lot of work for the Red Sox late season with a 2.33 ERA and 29 strikeouts through 19.1 innings pitched.
Cam Schlitter, the number ten prospect by the MLB, became a top pitcher in the Yank’s rotation. Schlitter was called up in the middle of the season in early July. He did some work for them late season to help them, while posting a 2.96 ERA and striking out 84 batters over 73 innings.
Connelly Early and Cam Schlitter both got the call to start in game 3 with the season riding on this game. It was the 15th appearance of the season for Early as well as the 15th appearance of the season for Schlitter.
Connelly Early told the MLB, “It’s 1-1 now, so it comes down to this game, and I’m super excited to get out there.” Early told reporters after game 2, “It’s electric. Every pitch matters… So, I’m just going to go out there and do my thing.” Early pitched well for 3 innings, giving up 0 runs to the Yankees. In the 4th inning he was taken out of the game after giving up 4 runs against the Yankees.
Cam Schlitter was excited but nervous to pitch as it was the biggest game of his career so far, per MLB.com. He pitched a total of 8 innings, letting up 0 runs and recording 12 strikeouts. As a rookie, he put up a historical performance when the season was on the line.
