Austin Wells ‘pumped’ after Yankees reposit trust on his cleanup duty

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The New York Yankees continued their faith in Austin Wells, placing him as their cleanup hitter for the ALDS against the Royals. On his part, the rookie catcher promised to repay the lineup faith.

“I can’t wait. I’m pumped,” an elated Austin Wells replied to the news on Friday. “Playoff baseball, let’s go.”

He conveyed his enthusiasm and readiness for the intensity of playoff action, fully embracing the challenge ahead. Austin Wells expressed excitement about experiencing playoff baseball for the first time. He eagerly anticipated the electric atmosphere at Yankee Stadium, describing his expectations of a loud and thrilling environment.

Earlier in the day, Yankees manager Aaron Boone voiced strong confidence in rookie catcher Austin Wells, standing by the young player despite his recent struggles at the plate. He emphasized that the backstop’s rough September stretch would not impact his position in the lineup as the team heads into the playoffs.

The Yankees skipper highlighted Austin Wells’ maturity as a hitter, pointing to a key at-bat during the playoff-clinching game against the Orioles as evidence of his potential. He noted that his performance in that moment showcased the rookie’s ability to contribute in critical situations. Boone also mentioned that the recent week-long break had been beneficial for Austin Wells, adding that the catcher had looked sharp during live batting practice.

“I just feel like within that little bit of a bump, we’re seeing a real mature hitter,” Boone said. “I mean, it’s one at-bat, but I go back to that at-bat that we clinched in against [Cionel] Perez [of the Orioles] where to me it was the at-bat of that game that set us up. I just feel like he’s swung the bats well through this week. I feel like the week off has probably served him well. Feel like he’s had good live at-bats this week. But I have a lot of confidence in the presence he brings there.”

Though Austin Wells had a difficult September, posting a .111/.217/.194 batting line with just four extra-base hits and a .411 OPS, the Yankees have not blamed his slump on fatigue. Despite playing in 115 games this season—a personal record for Wells—both the player and the organization believe his struggles are more about pitch selection than wear and tear.

Austin Wells has already acknowledged that his difficulties stem from chasing pitches outside the strike zone, something he’s focused on improving. Boone’s remarks suggest the team remains fully committed to Wells as a crucial piece of their lineup as they gear up for their ALDS showdown against the Royals on Saturday night.

Austin Wells reflected on his late-season struggles, admitting he may have veered from the approach that had previously fueled his success. However, the rookie catcher expressed optimism, feeling that his recent at-bats showed improvement and a positive trend. Austin Wells also noted he was feeling good about his current form heading into the postseason.

“I think that I probably tried to do too much at the end of the season and got away from what was making me successful,” the rookie backstop explained. “I think even the last week or so, my at-bats got back to where I felt they needed to be. I feel good.”

The 25-year-old catcher hinted that the break between the regular season and playoffs might serve as a reset, potentially helping him regain his earlier rhythm. For most of the year, Austin Wells had a standout campaign, even drawing consideration for AL Rookie of the Year before his performance dipped late in the season. His best stretch came during the summer, where he posted an impressive .936 OPS in August, .941 in July, and .769 in June.

Austin Wells finished the season with 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a .718 OPS over 354 at-bats. His left-handed power bat provided much-needed balance in the Yankees’ lineup, complementing right-handed sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton

Trevino behind Austin Wells boost for Yankees

Despite being sidelined by wrist surgery last summer, Yankees catcher Jose Trevino played a key role in helping Austin Wells adjust to the major leagues. Although unable to contribute on the field, Trevino provided the rookie catcher with valuable insights about the Yankees’ pitching staff while he was still in Triple-A. This guidance was aimed at preparing the young catcher for his eventual call-up on September 1.

Austin Wells expressed gratitude for Trevino’s mentorship, explaining how the advice gave him a clear understanding of the pitchers’ tendencies before stepping into the big leagues. This preparation allowed him to integrate more smoothly into the team, avoiding the steep learning curve of familiarizing himself with an entire pitching staff all at once.

“I couldn’t ask for someone better to have here for my first [full] year playing in the big leagues,” he said. “He’s helped me so much just to have a feel for the game and understand the routine of a catcher in the big leagues. To have him here has been awesome. The dynamic we have is special and probably not a lot of teams have that.”

Their early collaboration laid the foundation for a strong partnership between the veteran Trevino and Austin Wells. As the season unfolded, their work behind the plate gained recognition, with Trevino complimenting the rookie’s development and suggesting they could form one of the league’s top-catching duos.

Trevino spoke highly of Austin Wells’ progress, recalling that while he’d heard promising reports about him in 2022, their interaction had been limited due to Trevino’s injury in spring training. Nonetheless, Trevino emphasized the satisfaction of working with the rookie and staying in close communication throughout the season.

“Austin is doing an unbelievable job,” the catcher once said about the rookie. “It’s so good to see him grow from the past year, two years. I’d heard a lot about him in ’22; unfortunately in ’23 I think he hurt something and I wasn’t able to work with him as much [in spring training]. But having dialogue with him, being able to be his co-guy on this, it’s been really fun. Really good to watch him grow.”

The bond between the two began forming last year and deepened over the offseason, setting the stage for their strong collaboration this season. As Wells took on a bigger role in the latter part of the season, becoming a critical left-handed bat in the lineup, Trevino’s guidance remained pivotal. Their constant in-game communication allowed them to make real-time adjustments, discuss strategies, and fine-tune their approach against opposing hitters.

As the Yankees geared up for the postseason, the connection between Trevino and Austin Wells in managing the pitching staff was considered a valuable asset. Their effective teamwork behind the plate was expected to be a critical factor in the team’s playoff success.

The partnership between Austin Wells and Trevino has been instrumental in boosting the Yankees’ overall performance behind the plate, establishing them as one of the premier catching duos as they head into the postseason.

Their combined effectiveness was evident in key defensive metrics. Austin Wells ranked third in the league with 11 Catcher Framing Runs, closely followed by Trevino’s 10. In Catcher Blocking Runs, Trevino tied for sixth place with two, while Austin Wells contributed one. Despite the lack of measurable statistics in game-calling, presence, and preparation—areas where Trevino excels—Yankees pitchers have consistently lauded the rookie’s performance in these critical facets of the game.

The Yankees wrapped up their regular season with one of the top-catching tandems in baseball, finishing second in the majors in fWAR at 5.1, just behind the Brewers’ 5.9. Austin Wells emerged as a standout, posting a 3.4 fWAR—fourth-best among all catchers—solidifying his role as a key two-way player for the team. Jose Trevino added 1.7 fWAR and contributed in ways that went beyond the stat sheet, particularly with his leadership and experience.

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