In the Yankees‘ 9-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday afternoon, rookie catcher Austin Wells picked up three hits, including a solo home run and two runs scored. Wells has been on an absolute tear over the past few weeks, and the Yankees have made the strategic decision to bat him cleanup.
Austin Wells Shines as Yankees’ Cleanup Hitter
Manager Aaron Boone had Alex Verdugo featuring as the cleanup man with Giancarlo Stanton out due to a hamstring injury. However, Wells has been displaying excellent power, and his numbers are skyrocketing.
The 25-year-old, who is pre-arbitration with a $750K salary and not hitting free agency until 2030, brings a significant amount of control and quality on both sides of the ball, making the Yankees’ decision to promote him to the MLB this season a prudent one.
Despite the fact he’s been platooning with Jose Trevino, an injury to the defensive veteran has provided an opportunity for Wells to get more chances. By the time Trevino returns, Wells may be irreplaceable in the batting order, especially if the Yankees don’t make any major changes at the trade deadline.
Wells’ Impressive Stats
This season, Wells is hitting .223/.324/.391 with seven homers and 21 RBIs, alongside a 20.4% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate. His 106 wRC+ indicates he’s 6% better than the average MLB hitter, a mark that stands out particularly at the catcher position.
Although Wells has only 13 plate appearances in the cleanup spot, he’s hitting .333/.385/.583 so far. He’s getting more pitches to hit, with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge frequently getting on base, which is providing him opportunities for more damaging contact. In the month of July, he’s hitting .256 with a .383 OBP and a whopping .564 slugging rate, which is fantastic.
Defensive Excellence
However, the rookie catcher has been equally impressive on the defensive side. He ranks in the 93rd percentile in catcher framing and 81st percentile in blocks above average. He’s collected five catcher-framing runs this season, ranking 5th in baseball, and ranks 13th with a 49% strike rate. While Trevino ranks at the top in both categories, the developmental steps Wells has taken defensively are inspiring and suggest he could be the long-term solution for the Yankees.
Looking Forward
Until Stanton returns, expect Wells to continue getting everyday opportunities in the cleanup role. Eventually, they may push him down a few spots, but he’s earned every right to be in the top half of the lineup, and the Yankees should keep him there to add more diversity to the equation with his lefty bat and maintain a good balance of power and contact throughout.
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Ideally, the team would add a leadoff man at the deadline, making Wells’ opportunities even more fruitful with an increased on-base percentage three batters ahead of him.