Austin Wells proved himself as the Yankees‘ starting catcher last season, but the team is being careful with his workload this spring. While he’s getting defensive reps, he has yet to start swinging the bat, as the Yankees look to ease him into action following a long rookie campaign.
Wells played 115 games in 2024, finishing as the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year behind teammate Luis Gil. He hit .229/.322/.395 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs, posting a 105 wRC+ and a 3.4 WAR in his first full season. His offensive numbers showed promise, but he also proved to be a reliable defender behind the plate, something that wasn’t always a given when he was coming up through the minors.