Yankees Broadcaster Mispronounces Rookie Cam Schlittler’s Name, Clip Goes Viral
Play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco stumbles over Schlittler’s surname during Saturday’s Yankees–White Sox game; the rookie, who pitched six solid innings, was unfazed.
New York Yankees broadcaster Ryan Ruocco nearly turned rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler’s last name into an expletive in a widely shared broadcast clip from Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
Schlittler, making the start, worked six innings, allowing four hits, one walk and one earned run before being removed for a relief pitcher. During the telecast, Ruocco drew attention not for analysis of the outing but for a pair of verbal flubs that listeners found humorous.
Early in the game, Ruocco praised the rookie by saying, "More quality Schlitt from Cam." The moment later rippled through social media when Ruocco, offering a brief recap as the contest stretched into the 11th inning, stumbled again: "This game, started by Cam Shi- … sh, sh … Schlittler," he said, chuckling and adding, "Bound to happen one time."
Schlittler told The Athletic that he had not heard the mispronunciation and was not upset by it. He said the mistake is common and that most people close to him, including teammates in the Yankees’ clubhouse, simply call him "Schlitt." "It’s just a tough last name," he said.
The clip circulated quickly on social platforms, drawing attention separate from the on-field action. The Yankees and Schlittler’s performance on Saturday remained the primary sporting story from the matchup, with the airing gaffe treated largely as lighthearted broadcast humor rather than a substantive distraction.
Ruocco’s slip is one of several high-profile name mispronunciations that occasionally surface in sports broadcasting, underscoring the challenges announcers sometimes face with unusual surnames. In this instance, both the player and the broadcast team downplayed the incident afterward as a minor, human error amid regular in-game commentary.