Matt Blake expressed his disappointment when the Yankees traded away one of their most reliable catchers and leaders. Jose Trevino earned a Platinum Glove for his elite defense and had become a trusted presence behind the plate, guiding the pitching staff with precision.
Austin Wells: The Yankees’ new anchor behind the plate
Despite the loss of Trevino, Blake is optimistic about the Yankees’ catching situation. The Yankees pitching coach sees Austin Wells as the future behind the plate, confident he can step into the role seamlessly.
“Yeah, he’s been tremendous,” As reported by MSN.com, the statement was made by Blake during an appearance on MLB Network Radio last Monday.”And obviously, Trevy had a huge hand in that too. I mean, (Trevino) is one of the best back there, just managing the game, some of the leadership stuff behind the scenes in our classroom environment. But Wellsy has come up, and he’s got a great personality. He’s got confidence. He does a nice job of creating buy-in with the pitchers in that they know he’s done his homework. Obviously, he’s grown a lot behind the plate from the time we drafted him to where he is now.”
The Yankees traded Trevino, an All-Star in 2022, to the Reds for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and journeyman catcher Alex Jackson. While the trade ended Trevino’s stint in pinstripes, it also opened the door for Wells to claim the role many once doubted he could handle.
When the Yankees drafted Austin Wells in 2020, there were concerns about his ability to stick as a catcher. Yet, he has exceeded expectations. Last season, Baseball Savant ranked him in the 96th percentile among catchers in fielding run value and pitch framing. Still, Wells isn’t without flaws—he led MLB catchers with 11 errors.
Offensively, Austin Wells offers a boost over Trevino. In 115 games last season, the lefty hit 13 home runs and posted a .229/.322/.395 slash line, good for a .718 OPS.
Blake highlighted Austin Wells’ defensive progress and work ethic during his appearance on “Loud Outs.”
“He put up one of the better years back there, as far as receiving goes. And I think it’s a testament to the work that he puts in,” Blake said. “But I am really excited to see how he keeps growing back there.”
Trevino’s departure left a void, but the Yankees are betting on Austin Wells to fill it. With his combination of a developing defensive skill set and a potent left-handed bat, Wells looks poised to be a cornerstone for the Yankees moving forward.
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