Philadelphia – For Cam Schlittler, the All-Star Game was more than an exhibition; it was a prime opportunity to connect with a pitching icon. The 25-year-old hard-throwing pitcher, in his first full season in Major League Baseball, met with the retiring 43-year-old legend Justin Verlander on Monday night. Schlittler, who primarily relies on three types of fastballs, saw the game as a chance to glean insights from Verlander, known for his ability to maintain and even increase velocity deep into games.
"That is the kind of ability that 'great' pitchers have, being able to flip that switch when they want to throw harder," Schlittler said. He added that he is still learning to control his own velocity, noting, "I feel like I don’t know my body well enough to do that yet. I feel like I need more experience."
Schlittler and Verlander continued their conversation during warmups and in the dugout Tuesday during the American League's 4-0 victory at Citizens Bank Park.
All-Star Game Notes
Beyond the mentorship discussions, the All-Star Game saw other notable interactions. Juan Soto expressed his enjoyment of the event and mentioned a lengthy pre-game chat with Houston Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez. Soto had previously told reporters that he specifically wanted to pick Álvarez's brain. "It’s incredible to hear something from such a hitter and a guy that can hit that much," Álvarez said of Soto through an interpreter. "I think it’s going to be something interesting if we get to catch up."
In a less positive moment, Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero was hit by a pitch on his left pinkie in the fourth inning. X-rays later came back negative, and Caminero left the game after being struck.