TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler is dealing with mid-back inflammation that manager Aaron Boone called “minor,” but will force him to stay off the mound for a while.
The 25-year-old righty has “felt a little tweak” in his back in recent workouts, and the Yankees had him undergo testing that “kind of came back bad news,” Boone added.
The news came after the Yankees completed their first official pitchers and catchers workout of spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday.
Boone said that while the injury “really hasn’t slowed” Schlittler, they told him they didn’t want him to potentially make the injury worse by pitching through pain.
“It’s something he kind of feels (and) he gets some treatment,” Boone said. “But we kind of just said, ‘Hey, you’re kind of ahead of the schedule in the progression standpoint. Let’s not turn this into something.’”
Boone added that Schlittler, who has already thrown as many as two innings in a live batting practice setting, will continue throwing.
The fireballer was key to the Yankees’ second-half success and playoff run last year. He debuted July 9 and posted a 2.96 ERA while going 4-3 over 14 starts, striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings. His signature moment came when he threw eight scoreless innings to beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-0, in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, fanning 12 while walking none.
“Look,” Boone said, “obviously, we’re very excited about him and expect him to be a key part of our rotation, and still expect that from (the) jump.”
The performance vaulted Schilttler into an uncontested spot in the Yankees’ rotation for this season — especially as the club awaits the expected returns of starting pitchers Gerrit Cole (June), Carlos Rodón (May) and Clarke Schmidt (second half).
But it also may have been taxing on the Massachusetts native. The 149 2/3 innings he pitched last season between the minor leagues and the majors were a career-high.
In addition to Schlittler, the Yankees’ Opening Day rotation is expected to feature Max Fried, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil.