Former Cougar Pitcher Brian Schlitter Called Up to the Majors

By Beckett Brennan

Former College of Charleston pitcher Brian Schlitter is just the third Cougar baseball player to earn a spot on a Major league roster. Schlitter was called up by the Chicago Cubs and was available to pitch for their Saturday game against cross-town rival, the Chicago White Sox.

Schlitter, a right-handed pitcher from Chicago, IL, pitched 52.2 innings for the College of Charleston in 2007 where he had a 5-4 record, 43 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.25.

Drafted after his 2007 college season, Schlitter went in the 16^th round to the Philadelphia Phillies. Later Schlitter was traded to the Chicago Cubs where he has been a relief pitcher for their Triple-A team in Iowa. In Iowa Schlitter has a team high of 12 saves in 27 appearances and an ERA of 4.09.

Schlitter was pulled up for Saturday’s game as a result of Carlos Zambrano’s meltdown in Friday’s game leading to Jeff Stevens losing his spot on the Cubs roster. According to the Cubs website, “we needed a fresh arm after a 13-inning game Thursday in Seattle and needing four relievers to cover for Zambrano.”

When asked about being called up Schlitter said on the College of Charleston website, “To grow up a Cubs fan, follow them, I never thought this day would come, it's a happy moment in my life.”

Schlitter is only the third Cougar to earn a spot on a Major league roster. The New York Yankees called up former College of Charleston baseball player, Brett Gardner in 2008. In 2003, former Cougar pitcher Jason Gilfillan pitched for the Kansas City Royals.

Gardner currently starts for the Yankees with a batting average of .321, 23 RBI’s and 24 stolen bases. Gilfillan saw 13 appearances with the Kansas City Royals where he had a record of 2-0 out of the bullpen.

Schlitter’s move to the Cubs led to pitcher Jeff Stevens moving down to the Cubs Triple-A team in Iowa, the team that Schlitter was previously pitching for when he received his promotion.

According to the Cubs organization regarding the change, “It was really hard sending Stevens out today,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella, said. “This kid was doing his job, was competing and through no fault of his own, he's on his way to Iowa. The kid we brought up today, he's got a good breaking ball, competes well and has a nice fresh arm.”

Stevens was pulled down as a repercussion of the Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano’s actions after the first inning of Friday’s game against the White Sox. Zambrano’s public outburst in the dugout directed at his teammates resulted in him being indefinitely suspended from the team.

Due to Major League Baseball rules, the suspension of a player does not allow the organization to replace that player. As a result, the Cubs organization felt the need to swap out a relief pitcher to guarantee fresh relief pitchers after Thursday’s 13-inning game in Seattle.

Despite the reasons behind Schlitter’s call to the Majors, “I was really excited. Schlitter said. “I called my family first and told them, 'Drop all your plans tomorrow -- you're coming to the game.”

The Cubs lost Saturday’s game to the White Sox 3-2 but won Sunday’s game 8-6, winning only one game in their three game series. Schlitter did not see any action in either game and it is unknown h whether his move to the Cubs roster is permanent.