New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler has revealed he and his family have received death threats from some Boston Red Sox fans in the lead-up to his scheduled start at Fenway Park. This comes after a dominant postseason performance last year where Schlittler threw eight scoreless innings, eliminating the Red Sox. He expressed excitement for his upcoming start, despite anticipating a hostile reception.
Schlittler stated that while his family has received threats, he has not involved law enforcement and considers the fan interactions a regular occurrence in this intense rivalry. He claims this type of antagonism fuels his performance, recalling how online harassment from Red Sox fans, including targeting his mother, prior to his playoff start last season "100 percent" fired him up.
Schlittler, who grew up a fan of the Boston teams, including the Red Sox, is set to make his debut at Fenway Park on Thursday. He anticipates fans, possibly of his own age group, will attempt to provoke him from the bullpen area.
Read More: Stanley Cup Playoffs: Top Players Measured by Goals Above Replacement
The pitcher’s history with the Red Sox fanbase includes ongoing "trolling" which he claims happens "every week… every day." He also alluded to past incidents where Red Sox fans harassed his mother, leading her to deactivate her social media account.
This rivalry has been described as deeply personal for Schlittler, who grew up locally and whose father is a police chief. His previous playoff outing against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium was particularly impactful due to this personal connection. The tension between Schlittler and Red Sox fans appears to be a recurring theme, with his comments seemingly reigniting rivalry dynamics.
