The New York Yankees, traditionally known for prioritizing defensive skills in their catchers, are undergoing a strategic shift. Rookie Austin Wells is emerging as a key player, indicating a potential change in the team’s approach to the catcher’s position.
Evaluating the Yankees’ Catching Duo: Wells and Trevino
Currently, the Yankees are employing a platoon system between Wells and Jose Trevino. While Trevino has experienced challenges, particularly with runners stealing bases, Wells is making notable strides both offensively and defensively. Despite a modest .213/.304/.346 batting line over his first 49 MLB games, Wells’ performance metrics are improving, signaling his potential upside.
Offensive Upswing and Defensive Gains
Wells has hit three home runs and driven in 13 RBIs this season, with a strikeout rate of 21.5% and a walk rate of 11.4%. His 89 wRC+ indicates he’s performing below the MLB average, but recent weeks have seen an uptick in his stats. Over the last two weeks, Wells boasts a .250/.348/.500 slash line with an .848 OPS, suggesting that despite some bad luck, his hitting is on the rise.
From the left side of the plate, Wells shows significant promise and could become a long-term fixture for the Yankees. His expected batting average of .250 and expected slugging of .419 further suggest that his current stats might not fully reflect his capabilities.
Prospect Watch and Future Considerations
The Yankees also have an exciting prospect in Agustin Ramirez, whose offensive skills are highly touted. A potential platoon between Wells and Ramirez could create a dynamic duo at a position traditionally seen as offensively weak in baseball.
Wells also impresses with a 49.1% strike rate and four catcher framing runs, ranking him third in strike rate among catchers. This performance exceeds that of former Yankees Ben Rortvedt and Kyle Higashioka, highlighting Wells’ effective adaptation to the major leagues.
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Wells’ Bright Future
If Austin Wells continues to develop his offensive game and maintain his defensive improvements, he has the potential to become one of the top catchers in MLB. Given that this is just his rookie season, the outlook for Wells is highly promising, and the Yankees’ decision to elevate him this season appears to be a strategic success.