The New York Yankees are making tough choices behind the plate, and Austin Wells is the one paying the price. Once the clear starter, Wells now finds himself watching more often as Ben Rice earns the bulk of the catching assignments. With Paul Goldschmidt taking a spot at first base and crushing left-handed pitching, Wells has fewer paths back into the lineup.
Wells Opens Up on His Situation
Wells has started just eight of the Yankees’ last 17 games after opening the season with 78 starts in the first 108. His decline at the plate since mid-July has coincided with Rice’s rise, a combination that pushed him out of his comfort zone.
“These last few weeks I know have not been good for me,” Wells admitted in a candid conversation with NJ.com. “Not seeing results is always tough. It’s also probably tough for the coaching staff to not see results and want to put me back in the lineup. So it’s tough all around. It’s a results-driven sport. If you’re not getting numbers, you’re probably not going to play.”
The numbers explain the benchings. Wells’ batting average has dropped from .227 to .206 thanks to a brutal 21-game stretch where he hit just .123 with one homer. His OPS during that span sits at .356, which is far below the league average.
Breaking balls have been his downfall. Wells owns a .134 average against curves and sliders this year, compared to .263 against fastballs. Opposing pitchers know it, and they’ve exploited it.
Still, Wells believes his overall offensive profile has improved since last season, pointing to better production with runners in scoring position. He also emphasized his defensive growth, noting his framing now ranks among the best in baseball.
“If we’re looking at the catching, I’m one of the best catchers in the league,” Wells said.
Rice Thrives, Goldschmidt Creates a Logjam
The Yankees’ depth chart complicates Wells’ path forward. Rice has emerged as a legitimate everyday option, hitting .239 with 18 homers and 45 RBIs in 104 games, including 15 starts at catcher since June. His steady work behind the plate has won the staff’s trust.
Goldschmidt, meanwhile, remains a good option at first base, which limits opportunities to slide Rice across the diamond to free up at-bats for Wells. Against left-handed pitching, Goldschmidt continues to punish mistakes, making him too valuable to rotate out.
That reality leaves Wells on the bench more than expected.
“The time that I’m not playing, I use it to get better and look at stuff and try to figure things out,” Wells said. “If this is what they think is going to help the team in this moment, then that’s what’s going to help the team. And Ben’s doing a great job. He’s raking. If that’s what we’re gonna do, I’m going to support Ben in any way that I can. And at the same time, I’m trying to get better every single day so I can do the same thing as Ben when it’s my turn again.”
Yankees hitting coach James Rowson praised Wells’ effort even while acknowledging the frustration. “Austin is tough as nails. There’s no doubt about it, it’s tough when you go through these spurts as a young player, but his work has been great.”
For now, Wells remains determined to fight his way back into the starting mix. The Yankees still value his left-handed power and his defensive improvement, but the lineup card makes one thing clear: until the results return, Rice and Goldschmidt have pushed him into a reduced role.
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