When you think about the New York Yankees' success this season, the conversation has to start with Cam Schlittler. The 25-year-old right-hander isn't just having a good year—he's putting together one of the most dominant starts in baseball history.

Through his first nine starts, Schlittler has been virtually unhittable. He's tossed 53.1 innings, racked up 59 strikeouts, and walked just nine batters. His ERA? A microscopic 1.35. Those numbers alone would turn heads, but the real jaw-dropper is the company he's keeping.

According to OptaSTATS, Schlittler is the first MLB pitcher since Walter Johnson in 1913 to record 50+ strikeouts, fewer than 10 walks, no more than one home run allowed, and a sub-1.50 ERA over his first nine starts of a season. Let that sink in—a feat that hasn't been achieved in over a century.

For Yankees fans who watched Schlittler face the Boston Red Sox last year, this breakout shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Even then, it was clear he had the stuff to become a frontline starter. But to see him dominate this quickly? That's the kind of rise that reminds you why baseball is so captivating.

With plenty of season left, Schlittler has the chance to prove this isn't just a hot streak—it's the arrival of a true ace. And for a Yankees team with championship aspirations, having a pitcher of this caliber on the mound every fifth day changes everything.