Mass. Police Chief's Son to Make Major League Debut with New York Yankees
What to know
- Needham Police Chief John Schlittler’s son, right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler, is making his major-league debut with the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
- Despite being from Boston Red Sox territory, the department celebrated the achievement on social media, calling it a proud moment for the Schlittler family and the Needham community.
- Cam Schlittler, who is from Walpole, played at Northeastern University and was drafted by New York in 2022.
It might sound like sacrilege for anyone from Massachusetts to root for the New York Yankees, but at least one police chief—and arguably an entire department—from the state will be cheering for the Bronx Bombers on Wednesday.
That's when rookie right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler will make his major league debut on the mound for the Yankees in the second game of a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners. Schlittler is the son the son of Needham Police Chief John Schlittler. Needham is less than 20 miles from Boston, home of the Yankees' hated rivals, the Red Sox.
"What an incredible accomplishment and a moment the entire Schlittler family will remember for the rest of their lives," the department stated in a Tuesday social media post. "This is a proud time for our whole community, something we can all be proud of."
Cam Schlittler, who grew up in Walpole, played three seasons at Northeastern University and was drafted by the New York in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Since being promoted to the Yankees' Triple-A team last month, he's gone 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in five starts.
"From the baseball fields of Walpole, to the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, your hard work and dedication have paid off," the department stated. "We can’t wait to watch what the future holds.
"The Needham Police family is cheering you on every step of the way."
