The New York Yankees have selected Austin Wells (C) from the University of Arizona with their first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2018 out of high school, the club has had eyes on Wells for some time now. Everyone knows that the New York Yankees values offensive production the most and that’s exactly what Austin Wells brings to the table. Scouts have noticed his ability to hit for power to all parts of the field. In his freshman season at Arizona, Wells batted .353 with 78 hits and five home runs through 56 games played. In the short amount of time that college baseball had this year, Wells was batting .375 with 21 hits and two home runs through 15 games played.
Something to note about Wells’ game is his great plate discipline. He can take a walk when it matters most, racking up 46 walks through 56 games. The only concern that comes with Wells is that scouts doubt his defensive ability behind the plate. He was a designated hitter his senior year in high school and there are some concerns that his defensive won’t be able to play at the next level.
It’s possible that Wells will begin primarily as a catcher, but move to another position. It’s been done before and some players have made great careers at positions they weren’t originally always playing, such as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Wells is most comparable to Schwarber, as they both have similar frames and were both catchers starting off. Both players bat left-handed and throw right-handed, and had similar numbers in college.
This is what some scouts had to say about Wells’ game:
Dan Zielinki – Baseball Prospect JournalÂ
The left-handed hitter has power to all fields. The biggest question is Wells’ future defensive position, as he has work to do if he wants to stay behind the plate in pro ball.
Ian Smith – Prospect 365
Wells projects to be a 55 hit, 60+ power type profile as a professional. Where the concerns in Wells’ profiles lie are his defensive destination. A big body already at 6-foot-2 and 220 lbs., Wells shows good qualities as a backstop with a big arm and great leadership, but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t move particularly well.
There’s a healthy debate as to whether Wells will play catcher, first base or a corner outfield spot in pro ball, but there is a solid consensus that he should hit enough to be a productive pro even if he ends up at first base.
This was a good pick for the Yankees, as Wells brings a lot of talent to the table. He provides an above-average bat and if he’s able to figure it out behind the plate, this could be a steal for the Yankees.