Austin Wells

2021 could make or break Gary Sanchez’s New York Yankee career

March 30, 2021 by Nathan Solomon

It’s certainly been no secret that Gary Sanchez has greatly underperformed the past three seasons for the New York Yankees. In the Aaron Boone era, Sanchez has had just one season above a .200 average and a .800 OPS. He’s worked hard to break out of his extended hitting slump, but now in 2021, there could be even more pressure to do so.

Austin Wells, the Yankees 2020 first round draft pick, has performed well this spring. Despite not yet making any minor league appearances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wells’s potential was high enough to receive an invite to major league spring training. In seven at-bats, Wells singled twice, including a hard hit up the middle on March 28 against Philadelphia.

At just 21 years old, Wells is making a strong impression on the Yankees. He was actually drafted in the 35th round of the 2018 draft by the Yankees out of high school, but decided to go to college instead. Being that the Yankees chose him again in the 2020 draft, that shows how highly the teams thinks of him.

Wells will finally get minor league at-bats this season since MiLB baseball is finally resuming, and he’ll have an opportunity to really show what he can do. If he performs well, the Yankees likely won’t be hesitant to advance him to higher minor league levels, especially if Sanchez is struggling in the majors.

So, if Gary Sanchez doesn’t perform well this season, his Yankee days could soon be outnumbered. If Wells continues his strong play in 2021, he could progress through the minor league ranks quickly and be major league ready soon. It’s certainly not unheard of that players make their MLB debuts within a couple years of their draft, and that could be the case for Wells if Sanchez continue to underperform for the Yankees.

Yankees’ 2020 first-round pick is impressing with his hitting ability and knowledge

March 10, 2021 by Andres Chavez

The 2020 season was a lost one for many players and prospects, even in the New York Yankees. There was a shortened MLB season, but the Minor League Baseball campaign was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.

However, the fact that there wasn’t live baseball for catcher Austin Wells, the Yankees’ 2020 first-round draft pick, didn’t prevent him from making an effort to improve his skills.

“So far he’s been really impressive,” Kevin Reese, the Yankees’ senior director of player development, said to MLB.com. “I think what’s been impressive, too, is just throughout this downtime — I can’t imagine being a player during this time, especially a first-round pick who has to wait a year to get into a game — he’s been a total pro; communicating really well with our hitting, catching, nutrition, strength and conditioning staff.”

The drive to be better is what separates the great ones from the pack, and Wells understands that very well. He played his first professional game a few days ago in spring training, but he managed to impress players and coaches with his hitting prowess.

“I’m just taking it day by day,” Wells said. “I’m not looking too far into the future and not thinking too much about the past and what’s happened, or what should have been. I’m just taking the opportunities that come to me and really taking advantage of those, for sure.”

The Yankees love his demeanor and approach

Wells’ hitting is what stands out from his game. He has a compact swing from the left side of home plate, capable of generating plenty of power but geared for line drives.

“He can hit; we really like his swing,” said manager Aaron Boone. “One of the things that stands out to me is that I didn’t necessarily know how strong he is. He’s as strong as anyone in camp, especially when you test them and everything. Some of the conversations that he’s having are pretty advanced from a hitting standpoint. This is a guy that loves hitting and understands it a little bit.”

One Yankees prospect is raising eyebrows early on in spring training

February 22, 2021 by Alexander Wilson

Only pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training thus far, but the New York Yankees are already underway with their progress toward the start of the 2021 season. With some luck, the upcoming campaign won’t be significantly influenced by COVID-19, and after a 2020 season where the league implement new protocols and establish some ground rules, things should be smooth sailing from here on out.

Last season didn’t go as planned for the Yankees, who had World Series aspirations but fell short. The injection of youth and injuries that plastered the roster created problems, but this upcoming season has a bit more optimism around it. The Yankees upgraded their starting pitching rotation and added a few more players to help boost their chances.

One new face is impressing for the Yankees early on:

The start of spring training has gone well, and one young player has impressed early on. This past summer, the Yankees selected catcher Austin Wells out of the University of Arizona. Wells is an intriguing prospect that projects as a quality hitter at the MLB level but had some issues defensively behind the plate. Nonetheless, he is confident he can make a career catching, but it’s his bat that will likely take him to new heights.

“He can hit,” Boone said regarding Austin Wells.

“I really like his swing,’’ Boone said. “One of the things that stands out to me, that I didn’t necessarily know, is how strong he is. He’s as strong as anyone in camp, especially when you test him.”

Offensively, Wells hit .357 with an OPS of 1.035 over two seasons with Arizona. Over 15 games, he posted two homers and 14 RBIs, which is nothing to write home about, indicating he is more of a contact hitter with some hidden power. As a lefty batter, he adds a bit of diversity to the Yankees prospect list, and at 21 years old, he has plenty of time to develop in the coming years.

“Talking with [assistant hitting coach] P.J. Pilittere the other day about some of the conversations he’s having are pretty advanced, as far as from a hitting standpoint,’’ Boone said. “He’s a guy who loves hitting and understands it a little bit.”

New York Yankees News/Rumors: Mr. October hangs it up, Yankees’ outfield and more

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 by William Parlee

Long before the New York Yankee’s Mr. November, long before Deter Jeter earned that moniker, there was a Mr. October, that being Reggie Jackson. Jackson had an outstanding baseball career, one that earned him a Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1993. In his long distinguished career, he played for the Yankees and helped the Yankees win a championship in 1978 and spent a total of five seasons playing (1977-81) in the pinstripes.

In 1993 former Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner appointed Jackson as a special advisor to the Yankees. Since then, Jackson has been at every spring training in Tampa, Florida, mentoring the young Yankees. Now, after all those seasons he is stepping back, he will no longer serve as a special adviser for the Yankees, the 74-year-old announced on Sunday.

“I would say I’ve stepped back a little bit, taken my retirement, really,” Jackson said. “I just think it’s time.”

Jackson was the MVP of the 1977 World Series, where he hit three home runs in the clinching game to draw the moniker “Mr. October,” Jackson, 74 now, has worked in an advisory role for the Yankees since George Steinbrenner hired him. Jackson said it’s time to step back; it’s time to move on. He didn’t rule out working for another team closer to his home in California. Maybe he will have time to savor a “Reggie bar.”

Yankee outfield named number one in AL East

The Yankees have the strongest group of studs at an already loaded position across the division. The Yankees have the strongest group of studs at an already loaded position across the division as noted by SB Nation’s Cooper Halpren.

He suggests the Boston Red Sox are at the bottom of the barrel, followed by the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays, and coming in second, the Toronto Blue Jays, with the New York Yankee’s outfield at the top of the heap. Although each team has an All-Star-worthy outfielder, the Yankees have three potential nods. Clint Frazier, after being nominated for a Gold Glove in 2020, Aaron hicks and Aaron Judge, who has been an All-Star two of his four years of eligibility.

With Brett Gardner now hired for a 14th season, the Yankees have a minimum of starter-level outfielders without factoring in the backups. Gardner’s a plus-platoon guy. Aaron Hicks walks better than almost anyone. In 2020, his walk rate ranked in the 99^th percentile of the majors. His eye makes him a valuable contributor as long as he is healthy. Finally, Clint Frazier is going to be a starting outfielder for the New York Yankees. After years of injury setbacks, poorly timed slumps, and general overcrowding, the time has come for Frazier to cement himself as one of the franchise’s cornerstones. An then there is Aaron Judge, a no-brainer MVP candidate if he is healthy. The Yankees have too much talent and enough insurance to enter the season with the AL East’s best outfield corps. Everything depends on the health of the outfield.

Austin Wells impresses in spring training

The 2021 spring training is in the earliest days, but the Yankee’s new catcher Austin Wells is already impressing. The 21-year-old is making up for that lost time after no minor league games last season. He is showing flashes of why the organization selected him 28th overall. Wells is a left-hand bat with pop. He stared at the Univerity of Arizona while in college and is now among the Yankee’s prospects trying to make a name for himself ins spring camp.

“It’s definitely a great opportunity, a great experience,” Wells said. “It’s been great so far in the first couple of days. I’m looking forward to facing all of the pitchers, honestly. I’ve been out for over a year, doing remote training and everything, so any at-bat against a pitcher that I get is going to be beneficial to me.”

New York Yankee manager Aaron Boone has noticed that Wells seems to have an advanced hitting mindset, peppering coaches with mechanical questions about his swing and the proper approaches to take in the batter’s box. His coach Kevin Reese, the Yankees’ senior director of player development, said, “He smoked a couple of balls in the first live BP today. So far, he’s been imposing. I can’t imagine being a player during this time, but especially a first-round pick who has to wait a year to get into a game.”

New York Yankees News/Rumors: Catcher Austin Wells, pitcher Luis Severino and more

February 21, 2021 by William Parlee

The New York Yankees catching prospect Austin Wells has already gained the attention of the Yankees front office and manager Aaron Boone. Of the Yankees system, Austin Wells has really performed well, and scouts have noticed. As Gary Sanchez, Kyle Higashioka, and the other experienced catchers in Yankees camp this spring get their work in; a new left-handed bat has stood out before appearing in a single professional game.

Catcher Austin Wells, the Yankees’ first-round pick last summer, has shown off some considerable power during batting practice. “He can hit,’’ Aaron Boone said Saturday after pitchers and catchers worked out at the team’s minor league complex. It’s not a surprise since Wells’ bat is what made the Yankees take him with the 28th-overall pick out of the University of Arizona two years after they selected him in the 35th round out of high school.

“I really like his swing,’’ Boone said. “One of the things that stands out to me, that I didn’t necessarily know, is how strong he is. He’s as strong as anyone in camp, especially when you test him.” The Yankees will be watching as spring training progresses. however it is very unlikely that Wells will may his debut this season.

Wells good hitting reports bodes well for the Yankees as home run hitter Gary Sanchez has had his contact hitting challenges in the last few years. Sanchez’s backup in Kyle Higashioka has been considerably better but he is also not the greatest hitter although his 2020 performance was the best of his career. The recent acquisition of Robinson Chirinos also doesn’t improve the hitting at backstop.

Luis Seveino progressing better than thought

Yankee Pitcher Luis Severino was expected back from his Tommy John surgery in late August, but now that seems concseverative. Severino had Tommy John surgery before the 2019 season February and a setback made it impossible for the pitching star to pitch at all in the remainder of 2019 and at all during the New York Yankees 2020 season.

Now that spring training is going into it second week or workouts Bryan Hoch MLB insider has reported that Luis Severino was tossing at 120 feet. And manager Aaron Boone knows that first hand as the manager actually caught the former Yankees star recently. Boone said he was as strong as anybody in the bullpen and would likely throw from the mound in the next week or two.

Domingo German was expected to take his spot in the rotation at least until after the All-Star break. The good news out of spring training is that Severino could now back in the rotation as early mid or late June, possibly even earlier. This is exceptional news for the Yankees as they try to control the inning thrown by all their starting pitchers in a year that will see 102 more games than any of them have thrown in 2020. The most innings thrown by any Yankees pitcher last season was Gerrit Cole’s 91 innings. Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon only threw one inning between the two.

Gio Urshela will be ready on opening day

It’s not secret that the New York Yankees have had severe injury problems during the last two seasons with multiple players on the IL on multiple occasions. Last season during spring training several players were not expected to be ready for the opening day. They included Luis Severino coming back from Tommy John surgery, James Paxton coming back from back surgery, Aaron Boone from a fractured rib and Gary Sanchez with back ailments. This year is a lot better at this point.

Luis Severino is not expected to come back to the team earlier than expected, Luke Vioits foot problem seems to be in the rear view mirror and Gio Urshela bone spur surgically removed will reportedly be ready for opening day. Urshela had bone spir problem late last season but thought it was under control. But after it flarled back up in Columbia in the offseason the surgery was delayed until December by the coronavirus.

Urshela is now at the spring training complex in Tampa Florida and reports are that he is doing well. Although that being the case the Yankees will take it easy with Urshela and may not play him in some of the first Yankee exhibition games, but he will be ready for opening day at Yankee Stadium.

“He’s doing well,” Boone said of Urshela. He’s getting real close. I think you guys saw him throwing across the diamond today. He’s been doing that about a week now. I think backed up a little bit so the throws got a little bit longer. He’s doing really well. Feel like he’s close. Whether we start him in the early games here in spring remains to be seen.”

EmpireSportsMedia.com’s Columnist William Parlee is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. Follow him on Twitter @parleewilliam.

Austin Wells is “pumped” to be with the New York Yankees

June 27, 2020 by Andres Chavez

The New York Yankees‘ first round draft selection already put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the team. The catcher, best known for his offensive prowess, is eager to start his career with the organization that already drafted him once a couple of years ago.

The slugging backstop thinks that it is only a matter of time before he is hitting drives to Yankee Stadium‘s gaps and over the outfield walls.

The deal, worth $2.5 million, was slightly above slot value for the 28th pick, which is $2,493,900.

“The Yankees and I always had a very good relationship, and leading up to [this year’s Draft], we had a lot of great conversations,” Wells said. “Going throughout that day, I had a good range of where I felt was going in the back half of that first round. I’m super pumped that it was the Yankees, because of how great our relationship had been before.”

Following Yankees’ rules, he said goodbye to his beard

The young prospect knows that he is about to enter an adjustment period when it comes to the level of his competition. He also followed the organization’s rules of facial hair, shaving the beard he wore in his Arizona days.

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment, having had it for the last two years,” Wells said. “But in high school, I had to shave it as well, so it won’t be that big of an adjustment.”

Wells was ranked number 27 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 Draft Prospects list, so the Yankees took him right about where he was expected to go in this month’s draft.

The catcher was tearing up the competition until the coronavirus pandemic halted things, with a .375/.527/.589 slash line, 12 runs scored, six doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games as a sophomore for the Wildcats. He had more walks (17) than strikeouts (14.)

The New York Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer had nothing but praise for Wells.

“He’s a good athlete and has performed at an elite level, with a really tremendous work ethic and makeup. We think he can be an impactful guy, especially in our stadium. He’s a mentally strong kid. I think the weight of the pinstripes aren’t going to really affect him like some others,” he said.

New York Yankees News 6/26: Yankees Mum on Judge, Yankees sign Wells, all the news here

June 26, 2020 by William Parlee

New York Yankees strangely mum on Judge

Near the end of the New York Yankees 2019 season, Aaron Judge made a fantastic diving catch. Although not known at the time, he fractured a rib. Judge recalled that he felt something at the time, but continued to play. During the offseason, he continued to feel pain in his shoulder. Upon arriving at spring training, he reported the pain and trainers put him on a two-week hold.

When his pain did not get better, he underwent multiple tests, and eventually, an MRI that discovered the pain in the shoulder was sympathetic, the actual injury was a fractured rib. They also found that he had had a collapsed lung with has since resolved itself. However, through all of this, Judge still has not swung a bat. Initially, Manager Aaron Boone said that he believed that Judge would be ready to play when the season started. Later he said June or July.

With the injury, Judge remained at the George M. Steinbrenner complex at Tampa, Florida, for treatment and rehab. But since the time spring training was canceled, little information has been forthcoming. At one point hitting coach, Marcus Thames stated that his rehab was progressing but that he had not swung a bat. Since that statement, the Yankees have been mum on Judge’s rehab, which might indicate that Judge will not be ready at the July 23 start of the season.

Yankees sign drafted Austin Wells

The New York Yankees used their first draft pick to draft Austin Wells. The pick of Austin Wells probably shouldn’t have been a surprise because the Yankees went after him in the draft three years ago when he was at Las Vegas High School. Wells chose college instead and enrolled at the University of Arizona, where he has honed his skills and has proven to be a powerful left-hand hitter. This could be a huge win for the Yankees because if he doesn’t work out as a catcher, he also has played in the outfield and at first base, keeping his bat in the lineup.

With his plate discipline and left-hand power, it is very possible that Wells may be on the superhighway to the majors. The Yankees have until August 1 to sign him. Wells is 6′ 2″ 220 pounds, is a 20-year-old star. It has been said that Austin Wells plays with the same intensity as Bryce Harper, who was out of the same Las Vegas high school. The Yankees may have Wells on that superhighway to the majors as they didn’t wait until August to sign Wells, they signed him to a contract yesterday. According to the YES Network, he got a $2.5 million signing bonus.

Matt Blake’s Job just got more difficult

When pitching coach Matt Blake became the new New York Yankee pitching coach he knew he would have a challenging job. But there have been some changes since then; one included the signing of pitching ace Gerrit Cole which was a good match for Blake as they are both analytically inclined. However, the other change Blake could never have expected. The shutdown of spring training and the coronavirus.

It usually takes six weeks to ramp up pitchers, but even then, they do not have the full-arm strength to go deep into games. Faced with pitchers being separated from the game for over three months, Blake has just three weeks to get pitchers ready. He has to balance ramping them up while at the same time protecting them from injury.

Another issue concerning Blake is that many of his pitchers believe they are ready because they have continued to throw during their time off. The fact is that they aren’t ready. Throwing at home in the back yard or at a variety of facilities is not the same as throwing under stress or during games. With the loss of ace, Luis Severino to Tommy John surgery Blake and manager Boone will have to watch Jordan Montgomery and Jonathan Loaisiga closely to determine who will fill that fifth vacant spot in the rotation. Presently Montgomery seems to be the favorite.

The Yankees have outfield options

The New York Yankees depth in the outfield will be a factor this year as it was last season. The one position they most likely will not have to worry about is that Aaron Hicks returning from Tommy John surgery, with the season delay will now be ready to play in center field. They have a very big plus in the durable Brett Gardner as Hick’s backup.

The right field will cause the biggest question with the unknown status of Aaron Judge, who is expected to man the position. If he can’t at the start, the Yankees have Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman, who have varying experience manning right field. Last year they had the veteran Cameron Maybin who is now with the Rangers organization. Mike Tauchman has nothing to prove, but Clint Frazier does, as it may be his last chance to show the Yankees he can be a capable defender.

With the Yankees strong bench, they have the most options in left field. Giancarlo Stanton will be the starting left fielder, but they will also want to use him frequently as the DH. As it looks now, they will alternate DH and left-field play with Stanton and Miguel Andujar. With no place to put “Miggy” and having him get some experience during spring training in left, they will want to keep his bat in the lineup. If needed, they also can use Mike Tauchman in left, as well as super-utility player Tyler Wade.

A new year and a way different baseball game

New York Yankee players and fans will experience a very different baseball game this year. The coronavirus will have an immense effect on the season, even if it can be completed. There will be a real different feel for the players as they will lose the energy of having cheering fans in the stands. They will have the stress of playing while hoping not to carry the coronavirus home to their families. Some players have indicated that they will, for the most part, stay away from their families during the shortened 60 day season.

Some of the other changes will be playing teams that are not that familiar with like the Philadelphia Phillies, the World Champion Washington Nationals, the Marlins, and the cross-town New York Mets. There will be a universal DH and an expanded postseason. Games that go beyond nine innings will have a man on second to start the tenth inning. There will be a 30 man roster from the start of the season. There are sure to be more details to be released in the coming days, so stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com for all the latest developments.

New York Yankees scout compares Austin Wells to six-time All-Star Joe Mauer

June 17, 2020 by Alexander Wilson

In a perfect world, New York Yankees‘ first-round pick Austin Wells would hit .365 with 28 homers at the top level of Major League Baseball.

Wells, who grew up a Red Sox fan, would be forgiven for eternity if he could develop into what one scout believes equates to Joe Mauer, six-time All-Star catcher and first baseman.

In an interview with YES Network’s Jack Curry, Yankees’ top scout Damon Oppenheimer compared Wells’ skill-set to a variety of different players at the major-league level. However, one stood out, which was Mauer.

The 2009 American League MVP recorded a .365 batting average with 28 home runs during the 2009 season. His efficiency at the plate and defensive quality made him one of the best players at the time, prior to his retirement in 2018.

“I wish I could say yes, that there’s an exact player that he reminds me of. But it’s a little difficult because I’ve seen some Joe Mauer in this guy’s swing. I’ve seen some of that kind of pop at times. Just to say, ‘Yeah, he totally reminds me of somebody.’ I can’t really say that. That’s the swing he reminds me of a little bit sometimes of Joe.

He played all 15 years of his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, compiling a .306 average at the plate, 143 home runs, 923 RBIs, over 6930 at-bats.

The New York Yankees might have landed a stud lefty in Austin Wells:

Wells, who was drafted with the 28th overall selection in the most recent MLB Draft, was projected as a catcher coming out of the University of Arizona. However, his skills-set could fit more efficiently in the outfield. His lackluster arm from behind the plate and average defensive traits make him a prime candidate to swap positions and land in a spot like left field.

Of course, this would require him to completely adapt to a new position, but he has the ability to make the transition smoothly. Wells is the type of player who could develop quickly in the Minor League system, climbing his way to the Yankees’ top squad in two years or so. An injury several years ago disrupted his throwing motion, which no longer seems to be an issue. It could have lingering effects throwing from behind the plate.

New York Yankees’ Austin Well starts off his career in Pinstripes on a very bad note

June 13, 2020 by Alexander Wilson

There is no question that the New York Yankees gained a talented player in Austin Wells, given his ability to play catcher and potentially translate over to an outfield position. However, for Yankee fans, Wells comes with a bit of baggage that some people might find concerning.

Wells is a Red Sox fan, joining their ranks during their historic World Series run in 2004. Boston defeated the Yankees, coming back from 3-0 down in the American League championship series, going on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series since 1918.

“Yes, I was a Red Sox fan growing up,” Wells, who was raised in Las Vegas, told NorthJersey.com. “I think everybody’s mind changed (Wednesday) night after hearing my name called. I’m definitely a big Yankee fan now.”

The lefty slugger is expected to climb the minor-league ranks quickly and could find himself on the active roster within the next 2–3 seasons. The Arizona product was selected with the 28th overall pick in the first round, and some question his ability to adapt to the catcher position at the professional level.

The New York Yankees drafted Austin Wells before in 2018

Back in 2017, Wells caught the attention of the Yankees, breaking out with Bishop Gorman High School in Vegas. However, an elbow injury severely hurt his production and forced him to miss the season behind the plate. When the Bombers drafted him in 2018, he elected to attend the University of Arizona, stating:

“Coming here was the best decision I ever made,” Wells told Tucson.com in February. “So I’m super thankful … not thankful that (my injury) happened, but I’m thankful that I was able to go through this process, because I feel so much more prepared to play baseball at the next level.”

While Wells’ desire is to play catcher moving forward, he will do whatever it takes to succeed at the next level, even if it’s with the Yankees.

“I’m a catcher. I want to be a catcher,” Wells said. “I’m definitely willing to do whatever it takes to get to the big leagues. So, if that’s at another position, I’ll just hit home runs at Yankee Stadium and play wherever they need me to.”

The Bombers currently have Gary Sanchez behind the plate as their primary option. Sanchez has struggled with injuries in recent years, and if he continues to battle bodily deterioration, Wells could have an expedited process to the big leagues. Nonetheless, he must prove his worth in the minors first and foremost.

Austin Wells has no regrets and said passing on the Yankees in 2018 was the best decision

June 11, 2020 by Andres Chavez

When a high school baseball player has a commitment to attend a specific college, some teams try to lure them away in the draft by spending a mid or late-round pick and offering over-slot money. Some of them sign, others honor that commitment and go the university. New York Yankees‘ first round selection last night, Austin Wells, was in the second camp.

Oddly enough, the team that tried to lure him away from a college commitment in 2018 were the New York Yankees. He decided to go to the University of Arizona to pursue his education and hone his game a little bit more. The decision paid off.

In a couple of years with the Wildcats, Allen developed a sweet swing that is a great bet to hit for both average and power when he goes to the highest competition, Major League Baseball. The Yankees took him on Wednesday night with the 28th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

The Yankees had their eye on him since 2017

Wells’ true breakthrough year was in 2017, while he was at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. But he hurt his elbow and was unable to play in his senior season. Nevertheless, the Yankees drafted him in the 35th round of the 2018 Draft.

Wells decided to keep his word and go to Arizona. “Coming here was the best decision I ever made,” Wells told Tucson.com in February. “So I’m super thankful … not thankful that (my injury) happened, but I’m thankful that I was able to go through this process, because I feel so much more prepared to play baseball at the next level.”

He dominated with the Wildcats, with a .353/.462/.552 as a freshman and a .375 average and a .527 OBP in his abbreviated sophomore year.

“God has an interesting path sometimes,” Austin’s father, Greg Wells, said via Tucson.com. “If you look at where Austin is at today versus where he would have been signing out of high school, he’s a better person, a better man, more educated.”