In the New York Yankees’ 6-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park, rookie catcher Austin Wells played a pivotal role with a three-run homer in the first inning.
Aaron Judge, watching from third base, had a clear view of Austin Wells’ at-bat against Orioles’ right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, an 11-game winner and one of the top young starters in the league.
Judge recounted Austin Wells’ at-bat, highlighting the rookie’s determination as he fouled off difficult pitches, extended the count, and waited for a mistake. After falling behind 1-2, the backstop worked the count full, continuing to foul off several 2-2 pitches.
“He’s fouling off those tough pitches and buys himself another pitch, buys himself another pitch,” the Yankees captain said. “When you do that, sooner or later you’re going to get one to hit.”
On the ninth pitch, Rodriguez threw a hanging slider that Austin Wells crushed, sending it 397 feet over the right-field wall onto Eutaw Street. This home run provided the Yankees with a 4-0 lead, setting the tone for the game.
Judge commended Austin Wells’ persistence, noting that the prolonged at-bat ultimately led to a hittable pitch.
With rookie right-hander Luis Gil pitching six strong innings and allowing just one run, Austin Wells’ early blast was instrumental in securing the Yankees’ victory.
Austin Wells discussed his approach during his pivotal at-bat, explaining that he was targeting an elevated pitch to drive. The backstop noted that the prolonged at-bat, which involved fouling off several quality pitches, ultimately worked in his favor by wearing down the pitcher.
“I was looking for something up in the zone to be able to put in play and hit hard,” he said. “I fouled off some good pitches. We got a lot of pitches on (Rodriguez) there in the first inning, so I think having a long at-bat worked in my favor.”
Teammates Juan Soto and Aaron Judge praised Austin Wells’ recent performance. Soto, a newcomer to the team, expressed admiration for the rookie’s skills as both a hitter and catcher, highlighting his strong work ethic.
“I didn’t know (Wells) before (this year), so I didn’t know how he was,” Soto said. “Since I got here, I saw he’s a great hitter and a great catcher. He’s doing great. He’s putting the work in every day and he’s ready to go.”
Boone’s vote of confidence for Austin Wells
Manager Aaron Boone lauded Austin Wells’ plate discipline, pointing out his impressive 40/22 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 190 plate appearances. Boone described Wells as having a composed demeanor at the plate and significant power.
Austin Wells has been a standout in the Yankees‘ lineup, which has been plagued by injuries and slumps. He’s batting .281 with four home runs and nine RBIs over his last 12 games, showing significant improvement from his season average of .220.
The rookie catcher’s performance, along with fellow rookie Ben Rice, has provided a much-needed boost to a Yankees team that struggled, losing 16 of 25 games from June 13 to July 11. Their contributions have been vital in supporting the team’s stars, Soto and Judge, who also homered in the game.
Austin Wells, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday, has showcased his power-hitting prowess with 17 home runs in 96 minor-league games last season, and adding five more in 126 at-bats since his September call-up to the Yankees.
Boone also admired Austin Wells for his growing understanding of how major league pitchers approach him, highlighting his improved awareness while maintaining solid defensive performance behind the plate.
“I just feel like he’s gaining that experience of how the big leagues attack you and how pitchers go after him,” the Yankees skipper said, “What’s the book on him? How are they going after him? I feel like he’s got a better awareness of that while continuing to do a good job behind the plate.”
Austin Wells’ catching skills have been noteworthy, with his 3.44 catchers’ ERA ranking fourth-best in the majors. He has also been effective in controlling the running game, throwing out eight of 34 attempted base stealers for a 23.5% caught-stealing rate. Boone commended the catcher’s framing abilities and adequate blocking.
With Jose Trevino on the injured list due to a left quad strain, Austin Wells is expected to handle most of the catching duties. Rookie Carlos Narvaez, recently called up without major league experience, is anticipated to start a few games per week.
The rookie is enthusiastic about the increased playing time, stating that he feels well-prepared for the opportunity. He emphasized his commitment to daily improvement, believing that more repetitions and at-bats will lead to better results.
Boone confirmed that Austin Wells could see more playing time due to Trevino’s injury, though the extent of Trevino’s absence remains uncertain pending further test results.
As a first-round draft pick in 2020, he continues to develop as a rookie, showing promise both offensively and defensively as he assumes a more significant role in the Yankees’ lineup.
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Wells, like Ben Rice just has to be allowed to play now everyday. If these guys keep succeeding, it’s better for the Yankees on the trade front too. Like it or not, these 2 rookies gotta play.