Yankees Player Condemns Red Sox Fans for Online Attacks

Cam Schlittler, a rookie starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, expressed disappointment at Boston Red Sox fans for attacking his family on social media. Despite this, he delivered an outstanding performance by pitching eight scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory during Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series on Thursday night. Schlittler, who grew up near Boston, stated that the incident motivated him during the game.

Speaking to reporters at Rogers Centre before the Yankees' workout, Schlittler mentioned that the negative comments from Red Sox fans affected him. He credited this motivation for his exceptional performance, striking out 12 batters and walking none in the crucial game.

The harassment extended to Schlittler's family, with screenshots circulating online of derogatory comments directed at his mother by a Red Sox fan. Schlittler acknowledged being made aware of the online abuse but chose to focus on using it as fuel for his performance on the field.

Despite the online harassment, Schlittler engaged with Red Sox fans on social media, making light-hearted jabs at them. He mentioned that while his friends who support the Red Sox were disappointed by the outcome of the game, he was confident they would move on to other sports seasons.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the situation but expressed confidence in Schlittler's ability to handle the negativity. Boone emphasized Schlittler's resilience and stated that the team stands by him amidst the challenges posed by social media interactions.

Schlittler revealed that he had prepared mentally before the game, sending messages to family members to ignore the online hate. He also shared that he had reassured Boone of his readiness to perform, emphasizing his focus on the game despite the distractions caused by the online harassment.