Yanks prospect Wells building off '21 success at minicamp

TAMPA, Fla. -- Austin Wells sported a purple welt on his right forearm, evidence of another productive day blocking balls at the Yankees’ player development complex. Bumps and bruises are a prerequisite for any catcher, part of the deal for a job description that he truly adores.

“I do love catching,” Wells said recently. “It’s a competitive position, and it’s definitely the most demanding, which I like. I’m a hard worker, so I like to be back there controlling the game and being a leader behind the plate.”

Wells, 22, was the Yankees’ first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft, receiving a $2.5 million signing bonus. Regarded as an offensive-minded backstop, Wells enters this season as the club’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Flashing a quick left-handed stroke that has generated comparisons to Kyle Schwarber, Wells might someday fit at first base or in the outfield, though the Yankees say they are committed to offering him more time behind the plate.

“The improvements that he’s made as a catcher were fantastic,” said Kevin Reese, the Yanks’ vice president of player development. “His arm strength got much better; his receiving got much better. We consider him to be a catcher.

“Depending on where some of our other guys are, he might be competing with [No. 18 prospect] Josh Breaux at Double-A or something like that, where we have a couple of different prospects at the same place. We might have to get a little bit creative to keep his bat in the lineup, but none of that is a concern about his catching ability.”

Wells split his 2021 campaign between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley, batting a combined .264/.390/.476 with 23 doubles, five triples, 16 homers and 76 RBIs.

He said that he handled the jump to High-A well and is proud of his performance in last year’s Arizona Fall League, where he posted a 1.034 OPS in 18 games for the Surprise Saguaros.

“I’d like to build off that from last year, and then being able to just continue to hit the ball to all parts of the field and take my walks,” Wells said.

Hoping to keep his mask and chest protector on as long as possible, Wells said that he has worked to improve his rapport with the organization’s pitchers, noting that he considers having a good relationship with hurlers to be “the biggest part of the position.”

Wells added that he is using the club’s Minor League minicamp to build progress with his arm strength, blocking and framing.

“Receiving has been the biggest jump; it’s night and day from when I got here,” Wells said. “The catching staff has done a great job working with me and helped me a lot. I’m just going to continue to do that and continue to improve.”