Austin Wells

Austin Wells
Wells with the New York Yankees in 2025
New York Yankees – No. 28
Catcher
Born: (1999-07-12) July 12, 1999 (age 27)
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2023, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through September 24, 2026)
Batting average.213
Home runs52
Runs batted in171
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Dominican Republic
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place2026 MiamiTeam

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. Born in the United States, he represents the Dominican Republic internationally.

Early life

Wells grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. His parents were both athletes at the University of Arizona; his father, Greg, of American descent, 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. Wells' brother Carson played baseball and his brother Mason played lacrosse.

Amateur career

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). He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona during his junior year.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Professional career

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

The Yankees invited Wells to spring training in 2021 as a non-roster player. 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. He finished the season hitting a combined .264/.390/.476 over 103 games, hitting 16 home runs with 76 RBIs. After the season, the Yankees assigned Wells to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

Wells with the Somerset Patriots in 2022

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

On September 1, 2023, the Yankees promoted Wells to the major leagues for the first time. Wells made his debut that night, recording his first MLB hit in his first at bat against Justin Verlander. 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. Wells hit back-to-back home runs 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. 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.

Wells with the Yankees in 2025

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. On May 6, Wells hit his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres.

In 2026, Wells struggled offensively during the first half of the season, batting .166 with four home runs and 15 RBIs through June 6. After experiencing persistent headaches, Wells was placed on the injured list on June 6. He later attributed his early-season struggles in part to repeated foul balls striking his catcher's mask. After returning, his production improved during the second half, and he finished the season batting .186 with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs in 122 games.

International career

Wells represents the Dominican Republic team in international play and in 2026, he participated in the World Baseball Classic. In a quarter-final game against Team Korea, Wells hit a three-run walk-off home run in a 10–0 win, invoking the mercy rule. Throughout the tournament, Wells has hit two home runs.

References

  1. ↑ "Austin Wells, el debut dominicano en MLB que pasó desapercibido". ESPN.com.ar (in Spanish). September 2, 2023. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "¿Cuáles son las raíces latinas del prospecto de los Yankees Austin Wells?". Fansided ES (in Spanish). March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  3. ↑ Heyen, Billy (February 2, 2026). "How Yankees' Austin Wells is eligible to play for Dominican Republic in World Baseball Classic". Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Lev, Michael (February 13, 2020). "The wonderful life of Arizona's Austin Wells, workaholic Wildcat and would-be first-round draft pick". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Emerson, Justin (April 18, 2018). "Wells brothers carry fraternal bond to Bishop Gorman baseball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Austin Wells, nieto de criollo, se apunta para receptoría NYY". Diario Libre (in Spanish). July 7, 2020. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Austin Wells aiming to be next Las Vegas star to hit it big in MLB". USATodayHSS.com. August 1, 2017. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  8. ↑ Kuty, Brendan (August 22, 2023). "Why Yankees' Austin Wells could be next prospect headed to New York". The Athletic. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ Emerson, Justin (June 6, 2018). "Bishop Gorman's Austin Wells among Las Vegas players chosen in MLB Draft". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  10. ↑ Lev, Michael (June 8, 2018). "After mostly favorable MLB draft, Wildcats have makings of more talented roster". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ Barr, Jason (February 12, 2020). "It's a family affair for Wells and Arias Jr". KGUN9.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  12. ↑ Mortensen, Christian (May 29, 2019). "Arizona baseball's Austin Wells named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year". AZDesertSwarm.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  13. ↑ Cicala, Paul (June 10, 2019). "UA duo make freshman All American Team". KVOA.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  14. ↑ Lev, Michael (January 21, 2020). "Arizona Wildcats catcher Austin Wells receives another preseason All-America accolade". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  15. ↑ Cavadi, Wayne (July 10, 2019). "9 college baseball bats tearing up the Cape Cod Baseball League". NCAA.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  16. ↑ MacLone, Rich (August 9, 2019). "Cape League Announces Awards". The Bourne Enterprise. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  17. ↑ "#16 Austin Wells". pointstreak.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  18. ↑ McCulloch, Bill (January 28, 2020). "Austin Wells Picks Up Multiple Preseason All-America Honors". 520SportsTalk.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  19. ↑ "2020 MLB Draft: A Conversation With Austin Wells". Baseball America. February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Arizona Wildcats catcher Austin Wells named second-team preseason All-American". Arizona Daily Star. January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ Pedersen, Brian J. (March 19, 2020). "MLB considering canceling 2020 amateur draft to recoup coronavirus losses, per report". AZDesertSwarm.com. SB Nation. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  22. ↑ Caldera, Pete (June 10, 2020). "MLB Draft: New York Yankees select Austin Wells, catcher out of Arizona, in first round". app.com. USA Today. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ Holmlund, Ted (June 26, 2020). "Austin Wells is in the fold: 'Officially a Yankee!'". New York Post. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Yankees, catcher Austin Wells agree to minor league deal, $2.5M bonus". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Yanks' 2020 pick Austin Wells invited to spring training". New York Daily News. February 17, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  26. ↑ Ruiz, Mike (July 31, 2021). "Yankees farm report: Wells, Volpe succeeding in Class A". Newsday. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  27. ↑ "With new faces, Hudson Valley Renegades have firm grasp of first place". The Poughkeepsie Journal. August 7, 2021. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  28. 1 2 "Wells leads 8 prospects named to AFL roster". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  29. ↑ Johnson, Greg (August 25, 2022). "No. 4 Yankees prospect Austin Wells growing as catcher, adjusting to Double-A pitching – Trentonian". Trentonian.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  30. ↑ Miller, Randy (May 17, 2023). "Yankees prospect Austin Wells back raking after spring injury, impresses Luis Severino with catching". NJ.com. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Austin Wells Promoted From Double-A Somerset To Triple-A Scranton". MiLB.com. July 21, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Jasson Dominguez And Austin Wells Called Up To Yankees | Patriots". Milb.com. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  33. ↑ Caldera, Pete (September 2, 2023). "Big-time big-league debut for Jasson Dominguez on milestone night for the Yankees". Bergen Record. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  34. ↑ Caldera, Pete (September 21, 2023). "Austin Wells hits first career home run for Yankees". Bergen Record. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  35. ↑ Martin, Dan (September 26, 2023). "Fans got a peek at Yankees' future in soggy final home game". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  36. ↑ Paula, Amanda (September 26, 2023). "Austin Wells: Rising Star Lighting Up The Yankees". Pinstripes Nation. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  37. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (March 28, 2025). "Austin Wells hits leadoff home run on Opening Day". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  38. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (May 7, 2025). "Austin Wells hits grand slam in Yankees' 10-run seventh". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Yankees' Austin Wells: Believes blows to head had effect". CBS Sports. October 19, 2026. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  40. ↑ read, TJ French·4 min (October 20, 2026). "Austin Wells Opens Up on 2026 Struggles with Heartbreaking Confession". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 26, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ↑ "Austin Wells 2026 batting Stats Per Game - MLB". ESPN. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  42. ↑ Press, Associated (March 14, 2026). "Dominican Republic's Austin Wells hits 3-run homer in 10-0 win". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  43. ↑ Press, The Canadian (March 14, 2026). "Wells' homer gives Dominicans rout-rule win over South Korea for WBC semifinal berth". TSN. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Yankees' Austin Wells: Propels DR to win in WBC". CBS Sports. March 14, 2026. Retrieved March 14, 2026.