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Austin Wells
Austin Wells
Austin Wells
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Austin Kenneth Wells (born July 12, 1999) is an American professional baseball catcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the University of Arizona, and the Yankees selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. Wells made his MLB debut in 2023.[1][2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Wells grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. His parents were both athletes at the University of Arizona; his father, Greg, played baseball, and his mother, Michelle, of Dominican descent, was a gymnast. Wells' father grew up in Maxwell, California, a rural rice-farming community. He currently farms rice, and his parents (Wells' grandfather and grandmother), Kenny "KC" Wells and Kathy "Cuckoo" Wells, are retired rice farmers.[3][2] Wells' brother Carson played baseball and his brother Mason played lacrosse.[4][5]

Amateur career

[edit]

Wells attended Bishop Gorman High School, and played catcher for the baseball team. As a junior, he was named the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and a second team All-American by USA Today and played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game after finishing the season with a .500 batting average with eight home runs and 47 runs batted in (RBIs).[6] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona during his junior year.[7]

Wells injured the elbow of his throwing arm during his senior season, requiring surgery. He could not catch during his senior year, but played as a designated hitter, limiting the interest he had drawn from Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.[3][8] As a senior, he batted .527 with 20 doubles, six triples and four home runs while scoring 46 runs and batting in 46 runs. The New York Yankees selected Wells in the 35th round of the 2018 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign and enrolled at Arizona.[9][10]

As a true freshman for the Arizona Wildcats, Wells batted .353 with 73 runs, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, and 60 RBIs and was named the Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year.[3][11][12][13] Following the end of the season Wells played for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league All-Star and was awarded the Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award after hitting .308 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs.[14][15][16][17]

Baseball America and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named Wells a second team preseason All-American and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named him to their third team. Wells also was named to the watchlist for the Golden Spikes Award going into his sophomore season.[18][19][20] Wells batted .375 with two home runs, 14 RBIs and a 1.116 OPS in 15 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[21]

Professional career

[edit]

The New York Yankees selected Wells in the first round, with the 28th overall selection, of the 2020 MLB draft.[22] Wells signed with the Yankees on June 25 for a $2.5 million signing bonus.[23][24]

The Yankees invited Wells to spring training in 2021 as a non-roster player.[25] They assigned him to the Low-A Tampa Tarpons to start the 2021 minor league season and promoted him to the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades in late July.[26][27] The Covid pandemic would not slow him down; he finished the season hitting a combined .264/.390/.476 over 103 games, hitting 16 home runs with 76 RBIs.[28] After the season, the Yankees assigned Wells the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.[28]

Wells began the 2022 season with Hudson Valley and was promoted to the Double-A Somerset Patriots in July.[29] He broke a rib during spring training, delaying the start of his 2023 season with Somerset.[30] On July 21, the Yankees promoted Wells to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[31]

On September 1, 2023, the Yankees promoted Wells to the major leagues for the first time.[32] Wells made his debut that night, recording his first MLB hit in his first at bat against Justin Verlander.[33] On September 20, Wells hit his first career home run, a 416-foot solo shot to right field off of pitcher Erik Swanson during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays.[34] The rookie catcher hit two back-to-back homers against Arizona and Toronto playing a key role in his team's victories. On September 25, he hit a home run in the fourth to eliminate the Diamondbacks' lead and also gave the Yankees the lead with another run in the eighth.[35] Next day, his two-run homer clutch hit in the ninth, the third home run in five days, allowed the Yankees to secure a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.[36]

On March 27, 2025, Wells hit a leadoff home run, becoming the first Yankee to hit a leadoff homer on opening day and the first catcher in MLB history to do the same.[37] On May 6, Wells hit his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres.[38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Austin Wells

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Austin Wells is an American professional baseball catcher for the New York Yankees of (MLB). Born on July 12, 1999, in , USA, there is no public information indicating Dominican heritage or eligibility for Wells to represent the Dominican Republic. As of early 2025, World Baseball Classic 2026 rosters have not been officially announced yet, and Wells is considered an American player likely eligible only for Team USA if selected. Wells attended the , where he played as a for the , standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 220 pounds. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Wells was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round, 28th overall, of the 2020 MLB Draft. After signing with the organization, he progressed through the , including stints with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where his contract was selected by the Yankees on September 1, 2023. That same day, he made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros, recording his first major league hit—a single—in a 1-for-4 performance during a 6-2 Yankees victory. In his first full MLB season in 2024, Wells appeared in 115 games, accumulating 354 at-bats and contributing significantly to the Yankees' postseason run, including his debut. During the 2025 season, he played in numerous games with 401 at-bats, batting .219 with 21 s, and achieved a historic milestone on , March 27, 2025, by becoming the first in MLB history to hit a leadoff .

Early life

Family and upbringing

Austin Wells was born on July 12, 1999, in , and raised in , . His parents, and Michelle Wells, both attended the , where Greg played as an for the Wildcats from 1992 to 1994, and Michelle competed in . The family's athletic environment fostered Wells' early interest in sports; his first memory was playing in the yard with his father. Wells has two younger brothers, Carson and Mason, who also pursued competitive sports. Carson followed in the family's tradition, playing at and later committing to the . Mason, meanwhile, focused on and competed at the Division I level. This shared emphasis on athletics within the household provided a supportive backdrop for Wells' development before his transition to organized . Wells is an American by birth and upbringing. Although reports have indicated eligibility for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to his mother's Dominican descent, as of February 2026, he is not on their roster and is considered an American player likely eligible only for Team USA if selected.

High school career

Austin Wells attended in , , where he played for the team under head coach Gino DiMaria. Over his four-year high school career, Wells lettered each season and compiled a .428 with 85 runs scored and 87 RBI. As a junior in the 2016-17 season, Wells was named the Nevada Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after batting .500 with eight home runs and 47 RBI. He also earned second-team All-American honors from USA Today and participated in the Under Armour All-America Game that year. Wells served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons and was recognized as his high school's Most Valuable Player in both years, while also receiving All-State honors. Entering the 2018 MLB Draft, Wells was selected by the New York Yankees in the 35th round (1,057th overall) out of . Despite the selection, he chose to honor his commitment to play at the .

College career

University of Arizona seasons

Austin Wells began his collegiate career at the as the primary for the Wildcats team, starting all 56 games during his freshman season in 2019. He posted a .353 with 78 hits, including 15 doubles, 7 triples, and 5 , while driving in 60 runs and scoring a team-high 73 runs, which also led the Pac-12 and all Division I freshmen. Wells demonstrated strong plate discipline with a .462 and slugged .552, accumulating 122 , and he hit a in his first at-bat of the season. His performance earned him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award, as well as consensus First-Team Freshman All-American honors from outlets like Baseball America and D1Baseball. In his year of 2020, Wells continued to develop as a power-hitting , but the season was abbreviated to 15 games due to the . Batting .375 with 21 hits in 56 at-bats, he recorded 6 doubles, 2 s, and 14 RBIs, while scoring 12 runs and drawing 17 walks for a .527 and .589 , leading the team in several offensive categories including (33). He earned his first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor on February 18 after a strong weekend series, going 6-for-11 with 4 doubles, 1 , and 8 RBIs, and he maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding across 121 chances behind the plate. This hot start also garnered him Second-Team All-American recognition from Collegiate . Wells' improved power output and continued discipline at the plate highlighted his growth, building on his high school foundation of consistent hitting and catching prowess. Wells did not play a junior season, opting instead for the 2020 MLB Draft after two standout years at . Over his college career, he appeared in 71 games, batting .357 overall with 99 hits, 7 home runs, and 74 RBIs, while maintaining elite on-base skills (.479 OBP) and contributing significantly to the team's offense as their everyday . His development emphasized a blend of contact hitting, emerging power, and disciplined approach, positioning him as one of the top catching prospects in the country.

Awards and draft history

During his freshman season at the University of Arizona, Austin Wells earned the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award in , becoming the first player in program history to receive the honor. His standout performance that year, marked by high and run production among Power Five freshmen, also led to consensus Freshman All-American recognition and Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. In his sophomore year, Wells continued to impress, earning Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after a strong opening series where he hit .545. He also received the Cape Cod League's Outstanding Pro Prospect award following his summer performance there. Wells' draft journey began out of high school when the New York Yankees selected him in the 35th round, 1,057th overall, of the 2018 MLB Draft from in , . However, he declined to sign, choosing instead to honor his commitment to the . Entering the 2020 MLB Draft, scouts highlighted Wells' potential as a left-handed power-hitting , noting his above-average hit tool, plus , simple swing mechanics, and strong plate discipline. The Yankees selected him 28th overall in the first round on June 10, 2020. He signed a minor-league contract with the team on June 25, 2020, for a $2.5 million , matching the slot value for his draft position.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The New York Yankees selected Wells in the first round, 28th overall, of the out of the . He signed with the organization on June 26, 2020, and was assigned to the rookie-level . However, the entire season was canceled due to the , preventing Wells from making his professional debut that year. Wells began his professional career in 2021 with the Low-A , where he appeared in 65 games, batting .258 with 9 home runs and 54 RBI. Later that season, he earned a promotion to , playing 38 games and hitting .274 with 7 home runs and 22 RBI. For the year, he combined to bat .264 with 16 home runs and 76 RBI over 103 games. In 2022, Wells split time across three affiliates, starting with a brief stint at Low-A Tampa (9 games, .231 average, 2 home runs, 6 RBI) before returning to Hudson Valley (.323 average, 6 home runs, 16 RBI in 28 games). He then advanced to Double-A , where he batted .261 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 55 games, contributing to their Eastern League championship run. Overall, Wells posted a .277 average with 20 home runs and 65 RBI in 92 games that season. Wells opened 2023 with short assignments at Low-A Tampa (5 games) and Double-A (58 games, .237 average, 11 home runs, 50 RBI). On July 21, he was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting .254 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI in 33 games before his major league call-up in September. For the 2023 minor league season, he hit .240 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI across 96 games. Across his career from 2021 to 2023, Wells appeared in 291 games, batting .260 with 53 home runs and 213 RBI. Throughout this progression, he emphasized development in defense, including pitch framing and blocking, while refining his power approach to better adapt to professional pitching velocities and breaking balls.

Major leagues

Austin Wells made his (MLB) debut on September 1, 2023, as the starting for the New York Yankees against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, where he recorded a single in his first at-bat as part of a 1-for-4 performance in a 6-2 victory. In his rookie season of 2023, Wells appeared in 19 games for the Yankees, batting .229 with 4 home runs and 13 RBI over 70 at-bats, primarily serving in a backup role behind the plate following his promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. By the 2024 season, Wells had established himself as the Yankees' primary , starting 107 games behind the plate while appearing in 115 total games overall. He posted a .229 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI, contributing to the team's lineup with a .717 OPS and demonstrating improved plate discipline with 47 walks. His defensive role solidified, as he handled a major-league high for a young , framing pitches and managing a pitching staff that advanced deep into the postseason. In 2025, Wells continued as the Yankees' everyday , playing in 126 games and batting .219 with 21 home runs, 71 RBI, and a .712 across 401 at-bats. Notable milestones included hitting a leadoff home run on , March 27, against the Milwaukee Brewers at —becoming the first in MLB history to achieve this feat—and delivering his first career grand slam on May 6 versus the San Diego Padres, which capped a 10-run seventh inning in a high-scoring win. Wells also appeared in 7 postseason games during the Yankees' AL win over the Red Sox and ALDS loss to the Blue Jays, batting .227 with 3 RBI. Through the 2025 season, Wells' career MLB statistics with the Yankees stood at a .224 , 185 hits, 38 home runs, 139 RBI, and 101 runs scored in 260 games, underscoring his emergence as a reliable offensive contributor from the catching position.

Playing style

Offensive approach

Wells features a quick yet controlled left-handed stroke that generates a high attack angle, enabling him to elevate the ball consistently for potential extra-base hits. This mechanic underpins his plus , as highlighted in evaluations of his draft profile, where his swing was praised for its balance and bat control. In 2025, this translated to a barrel rate of 10.2%, placing him in the 60th among major league hitters and underscoring his ability to produce hard contact with authority. At the plate, Wells exhibits solid overall with a career walk rate of approximately 9.5%, reflecting his ability to manage the effectively, though this dipped to 6.7% in 2025 amid adjustment challenges. However, he has shown vulnerabilities against offspeed and breaking pitches, particularly sliders, against which he posted a .138 and a 41.5% whiff rate that season. His 2025 performance included a .302 , 90.6 mph average exit velocity (63rd percentile), and 45.2% hard-hit rate (60th percentile), but a noted was evident in his 49.5% chase contact rate on breaking balls, well below the league average of 57.6%. Wells utilizes the entire field in his approach but leverages his left-handed power by pulling the ball effectively, with pull rates often exceeding 40% on batted balls, which amplifies his extra-base production as a corner infielder-eligible . This balanced yet pull-oriented style has contributed to 38 home runs across his three MLB seasons, affirming his offensive upside despite areas for refinement in pitch recognition.

Defensive abilities

Austin Wells, standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 220 pounds, possesses a sturdy build that enhances his durability behind the plate, allowing him to handle a full as a starting . However, this frame lacks the explosive "twitchiness" required for elite-level blocking, leading to occasional struggles in containing wild pitches and passed balls. Wells' arm strength rates as below , with throws averaging around 81 mph, but he compensates effectively through a quick release and exchange, achieving an pop time of 1.97 seconds on steal attempts to second base—slightly better than the major league of 2.00 seconds. This has resulted in a percentage of 19% in 2025, across 62 attempts where he threw out 12 runners, placing him in the lower tier among MLB catchers. Despite these challenges, Wells has shown marked improvement in receiving and framing, ranking among the top catchers in catcher framing runs with 11 in 2025, which helps steal strikes for his pitchers. His blocking skills are solid but above average, recording seven blocks above average in the prior season, contributing to his overall fielding run value of 11 in 2025. Scouts praise his dedication to refining these areas, noting quicker transfers and better glove work since his days. In game management, Wells excels in pitch recognition and handling, earning high marks from Yankees staff for his ability to call games and build trust with the rotation, which has supported a strong team in his starts. During the 2025 season, he provided defensive stability by starting approximately 100 games behind the plate, solidifying his role as the primary for New York.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/austin-wells-669224
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wellsau01.shtml
  3. https://www.milb.com/player/austin-wells-669224
  4. https://nypost.com/2023/09/02/austin-wells-delivers-solid-big-league-debut-for-yankees/
  5. https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2024/10/24/baseball-cats-in-the-pros-austin-wells-makes-world-series-debut-with-yankees.aspx
  6. https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/austin-wells-becomes-1st-catcher-in-mlb-history-to-hit-opening-day-leadoff-homer
  7. https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/player/austin-wells-669224
  8. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-first-round-pick-austin-wells-i-was-a-red-sox-fan-growing-up/
  9. https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/baseball/roster/austin-wells/10796
  10. https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/2019/4/9/the-catsys-award-show
  11. https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/baseball/the-wonderful-life-of-arizona-s-austin-wells-workaholic-wildcat-and-would-be-first-round/article_468cdf6d-28a8-593d-b295-6898cd8bfbc8.html
  12. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aviatorsbaseball/wells-brothers-carry-fraternal-bond-to-bishop-gorman-baseball/
  13. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/yankees-austin-wells-eligible-play-212324377.html
  14. https://www.justbaseball.com/international-baseball/team-dominican-republic-news-world-baseball-classic-2026/
  15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wells-001aus
  16. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/baseball/bishop-gorman-product-austin-wells-drafted-by-yankees-in-1st-round-2050352/
  17. https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2020/2/18/baseball-austin-wells-named-pac-12-player-of-the-week
  18. https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/5/29/austin-wells-freshman-of-the-year-pac-12-postseason-honors
  19. https://allsportstucson.com/2020/06/10/arizona-wildcats-austin-wells-selected-28th-in-first-round-of-mlb-draft-by-new-york-yankees/
  20. https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-2020-draft
  21. https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/mlb/yankees/news/austin-wells-catcher-new-york-yankees-mlb-draft
  22. https://www.redsminorleagues.com/2020/05/26/2020-mlb-draft-scouting-report-austin-wells/
  23. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/yankees-sign-first-rounder-austin-wells.html
  24. https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/12/how-yankees-no-1-pick-austin-wells-has-improved-from-a-far-during-pandemic.html
  25. https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/yankees-promote-c-austin-wells-from-double-a-somerset-to-triple-a-scranton/n-5992181
  26. https://www.pinstripealley.com/2024/8/8/24215054/yankees-austin-wells-catcher-defense-framing-blocking-comparison-improvement
  27. http://www.baseballamerica.com/players/7365-austin-wells/
  28. https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-wells-hits-leadoff-home-run-on-opening-day
  29. https://www.mlb.com/yankees/video/austin-wells-leadoff-home-run-1
  30. https://www.mlb.com/yankees/video/austin-wells-hits-a-grand-slam-7-to-right-field-aaron-judge-scores-cody-b
  31. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/4683349/austin-wells
  32. https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/player/austin-wells-94060/career-stats
  33. https://www.milb.com/news/scouting-report-yankees-austin-wells
  34. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/austin-wells-669224
  35. https://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-analysis-sabermetrics/157970/mlb-yankees-analysis-austin-wells-hitting-struggles-2025-plate-discipline-offspeed-breaking
  36. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/7365-austin-wells/
  37. https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/2023/06/22/austin-wells-yankees-catcher-prospect/70344591007/
  38. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/poptime
  39. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/catcher-throwing
  40. https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/onsi/news/should-new-york-yankees-short-leash-austin-wells
  41. https://theyankeejungle.com/f/2024-player-grades--austin-wells
  42. https://nypost.com/2024/09/21/sports/austin-wells-drawing-rave-reviews-for-work-behind-plate/
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