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Could This Prospect Be the Yankees’ Most Valuable Arm at the Trade Deadline?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 1:12 PM ET

The Yankees might have unearthed something special.

Cam Schlittler, the 24‑year‑old righty drafted in the seventh round of 2022, just earned a bump to Triple‑A Scranton after dominating Double‑A Somerset. Through 14 starts across both levels, he’s posted a sharp 2.18 ERA, with 97 strikeouts over 74⅓ innings and a tidy 1.14 WHIP. After a six‑inning, nine‑strikeout gem in Scranton, he’s looking like a rotation-ready arm.

He’s one of the Yankees prospects whose name will be bandied about this month in trade rumors as the Yankees look to improve the big league roster before the deadline.

Standing 6‑foot‑6 and up to 225 pounds, Schlittler’s high‑spin fastball (averaging 93–96 mph, touching 98) is his calling card. It rides with late life and pairs with a pair of breaking balls that project as mid‑rotation pitches. His changeup remains a work in progress, but his new splitter could bridge that gap.

Scouting grades reinforce the hype. MiLB.com puts his fastball at 60/80 on the 20–80 scouting scale, with secondary pitches in the 50–55 range and room for refinement in command and feel

FanGraphs’ David Laurila puts it best: “Emerging as the top pitching prospect in the Yankees organization,” thanks to a 40.2 % K‑rate in Triple‑A.

Scouts compared his delivery to Randy Johnson long‑limbed, downhill plane, and explosive fastball. His mix of heater, slider, cutter and curveball already grades out as MLB‑ready

A traditional mid‑rotation starter with his size and stuff? That’s a prize.

Bottom line: Schlittler isn’t a lottery ticket. He’s a real, soon‑to‑arrive arm—one who could help stabilize a Yankees rotation in October. And with his Triple‑A debut already showing dominance, his call-up could come as soon as later this season -- with the Yankees or another team.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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